A former Carroll County paramedic has been sentenced to federal prison for tampering with vials of fentanyl that were meant for patients in emergency medical situations.
Fifty‑three‑year‑old Teresa Marie Johnson of Manilla was sentenced Feb. 17 in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. She pleaded guilty in October to one count of tampering with a consumer product.
Federal prosecutors say Johnson was working as a licensed paramedic for a county ambulance service when she repeatedly removed fentanyl from the service’s supply for her own use. The fentanyl was intended to treat patients suffering severe pain after car crashes and other emergencies. According to investigators, Johnson tampered with the vials on three occasions beginning in late 2024.
One vial tested by investigators contained just 9.6 percent of the fentanyl it was supposed to have. The vial also showed multiple signs of tampering, including punctures in the stopper and adhesive‑like residue on the cap and crimp. Prosecutors say one of Johnson’s fellow paramedics reported situations where pain medication was administered to patients but “the desired response did not happen.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also highlighted Johnson’s prior criminal history. She has five misdemeanor theft convictions in state court, and previously received a deferred judgment after pleading guilty to felony forgery. As part of her federal plea agreement, Johnson agreed to forfeit her Iowa paramedic license.
Judge Leonard Strand sentenced Johnson to 30 months in federal prison, a $5,000 fine, and repayment of $6,000 in court‑appointed attorney fees and costs. After her prison term, she’ll serve two years of supervised release.
Johnson was allowed to remain free on her existing bond and will be required to report to the Bureau of Prisons at a later date. The case was investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa.
