7,500 doses of opioids meant for veterans were taken by USPS worker, NC police say
A U.S. Postal Service worker is accused of stealing “more than 7,500 dosage units” of opioids that were prescribed through the Veterans Affairs program, according to investigators in North Carolina.
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The opioids were stolen between July and September, the Greensboro Police Department said in a Sept. 3 news release.
“Following a lengthy investigation, and with the assistance of U.S. Postal Service personnel, Martez Murphy was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 2, and a search warrant was executed at his residence in Greensboro,” police said.
“Murphy is alleged to have stolen as many as 50 Veterans Affairs prescriptions of Schedule II opioids weekly, totaling more than 7,500 dosage units.”
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A federal investigation is ongoing. Details of what became of the opioids have not been released.
Murphy, 22, has been indicted on one count of theft of mail matter by employee, and was released on his own recognizance, officials said. The charge covers anything entrusted to a USPS worker for delivery, and a conviction could result in fines and a five-year prison sentence, according to Govregs.com.
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Greensboro is about a 90-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte.
