Nursing director sentenced for tampering with drugs

BILLINGS - A Sand Springs woman who tampered with drugs at a local health care center was sentenced today to 3 years of probation, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

Kailyn Marie Smotherman, 35, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of tampering with consumer products.

"When a healthcare professional tampers with medications and diverts controlled substances for personal use, they not only violate federal law but also put patients at serious risk," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office. "The FDA will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who compromise the safety and security of our healthcare system."

"The arrest of this medical provider reflects DEA's unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the healthcare system and holding accountable those who violate public trust," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cesar Avila.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on January 19, 2023, Kailyn Marie Smotherman was discovered to have been tampering with controlled substances at the Garfield County Health Center, where she worked. After a search of her office, staff and law enforcement found numerous vials of fentanyl that had been tampered with (caps removed and replaced) or had been emptied. They discovered other controlled substances that had been replaced along with supplies for tampering with the containers of the controlled substances.

The discovery of Smotherman's conduct occurred when staff had entered her locked office to retrieve a narcotics log. The office was in disarray and had hospital stock narcotics present, an IV pole, tourniquets, needles, IV equipment, replacement vial caps, replacement medication labels, and what appeared to be blood on many surfaces. A search warrant was executed and multiple types of drugs were recovered, in liquid and tablet form, from Smotherman's desk, floor, trash and filing cabinets. Law enforcement also found items from the pharmacy med room that had been tampered with.

Staff reported being concerned patients may have received saline solution instead of pain medication in the months preceding the search of Smotherman's office on January 19, 2023.

A forensic chemist with the Food and Drug Administration conducted an analysis of the controlled substance containers confiscated from Smotherman's office for tampering and/or adulterating of substances and concluded such tampering and adulterating had occurred.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The DEA, FDA and Garfield County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.

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