United States of America v. Michele Rene Muzyka

New Have, Connecticut criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession with Intent to Distribute, Distribution of, and Dispensing of Controlled Substances.

by

Kent Morlan

Law enforcement began investigating Michele Rene Muzyka, 61, of Cheshire, Connecticut, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), after pharmacists in New Britain and Middletown made complaints that Muzyka was prescribing high doses of benzodiazepines and amphetamines to clusters of patients who appeared to know each other or were related, and at times were picking up each other’s prescriptions. At least one pharmacist stopped filling prescriptions written by Muzyka because the pharmacist was concerned that the prescriptions were unlawfully written or were fraudulent.

An undercover investigation subsequently determined that, between January 2024 and June 2025, Muzyka unlawfully distributed amphetamines, such as Adderall, and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and alprazolam, to individuals who did not have a legitimate medical need. During office visits, Muzyka did not conduct medical examinations of certain patients and did not confirm conditions that would medically require treatment using these controlled substances. Muzyka charged patients $200 in cash for the office visits in which she prescribed the controlled substances, including to an undercover agent who posed as a Medicaid beneficiary. Although she was enrolled as a Medicare and Medicaid provider, Muzyka declined to accept the undercover agent’s Medicaid plan and instead charged her $200 cash fee. Medicaid paid $287.58 for the unlawful prescriptions written for the undercover agent.

The investigation also determined that between February 2020 and June 2023, five individuals to whom Muzyka prescribed amphetamines and benzodiazepines died of overdoses due to the combined effects of fentanyl, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and other drugs.

Muzyka was arrested on June 23, 2025. On January 21, 2026, she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, distribution of, and dispensing of controlled substances.

Muzyka has surrendered her controlled substance licenses and her APRN license.

This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to one day of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for illegally distributing controlled substances. Judge Bolden also ordered Muzyka to pay a $25,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.