FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
October 5, 2016
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
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AG ANNOUNCES CONVICTION OF FORMER DIRECTOR OF NURSING OF
BIRMINGHAM NURSING HOME FOR THEFT OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction
of the former director of nursing of a Birmingham area nursing home for theft of more
than 1,800 Hydrocodone pills from the facility. Marie White Tucker, 56, of Carbon Hill,
was convicted after a day-long jury trial in Jefferson County Circuit Court
Assistant Attorney General Jon Moody of the Attorney General’s Medicaid
Fraud Control Unit presented evidence to a Jefferson County jury, resulting in Tucker’s
conviction today for theft of property in the second degree.
The evidence presented at trial established that Tucker, a registered nurse and
the director of nursing at North Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, was diverting
Hydrocodone, a controlled substance, which had been discontinued or was scheduled
to be destroyed. This was discovered when staff reported the medications had not been
logged correctly.
Theft of property in the second degree is a class C felony with a possible sentence
of a year and a day to ten years of incarceration in the Alabama Department of
Corrections. Because Hydrocodone is a controlled substance the theft is automatically
classified as theft of property second degree. Circuit Judge Clyde Jones ordered Tucker
taken into custody immediately after the verdict. He set sentencing for December 12, 2016
Attorney General Strange commended his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which
handled the investigation, and Assistant Attorney General Moody for his skillful
presentation of the case at trial. Attorney General Strange also thanked the staff and
administration of North Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their cooperation
and assistance.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
