United States of America v. Matthew Ryan Elkins

Louisville, Kentucky, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with tampering with consumer products in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1365(a), acquiring and attempting to acquire a controlled substance by misrepresentation by fraud, deception, or subterfuge in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841, and burglary involving a controlled substance in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2118(b).

Digested by: Kent Morlan


Matthew Ryan Elkins, age 41, of Crestwood, Kentucky, admitted to LMPD officers that he had been removing narcotics from the office twice a week for at least three months. Elkins described how he would remove pain medications from pre-filled syringes (intended for specific patients’ pain pumps), deposit the pain meds into a separate vial, and save them for personal use. After removing the pain medications from the syringes, Elkins would refill them with sodium chloride and place them back in the safe in an attempt to evade detection. As a result, patients received heavily diluted and adulterated medications. Elkins’ actions caused patients to suffer extreme pain, sickness, and other withdrawal symptoms.

Imprisonment - 77 months (concurrent); Supervised Release - 3 years; Total Fine - $15,000; Total Restitution - $1,085.87; Total SPA - $300