A pharmacist from Wisconsin has agreed to plead guilty to destroying hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine as colleagues suspected him of placing vials outside of the refrigerated conditions specified.
The man was accused of tampering with vaccines provided by Moderna and destroying them in the process.
Steven Brandenburg, who worked the night shift at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wisconsin, faces two charges of reckless disregard leading to death or bodily injury and attempting to tamper with consumer products that carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each charge.
The U.S. Justice Department said that Brandenburg, who has been a pharmacist for the last 23 years, removed a box of vaccines from the pharmacy's refrigerator knowing full well that it would result in the doses becoming inert or less effective.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Grafton Police Department have been investigating the incident, which occurred on Dec. 25.
"Pharmacists rank among some of the most trusted professionals. This individual used his special access to tamper with vials of the much needed COVID-19 vaccine. The FBI takes allegations of consumer product tampering very seriously and will use all available resources to bring those to justice who intentionally put the public's health at risk," FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes said in a statement.
Authorities found out from the 46-year-old pharmacist's colleagues that Brandenburg had begun to believe an array of conspiracy theories and had shared his distrust of vaccines, especially the ones produced by Moderna.
Investigators interviewed dozens of hospital staff and collected surveillance footage to back up their accusations that Brandenburg was intentionally sabotaging the doses.
The Justice Department said that 57 doses from the box that Brandenburg had tampered with were administered to residents at the medical center. Authorities are still trying to track down the individuals and to find out if the doses they were given were rendered ineffective as a result of Brandenburg's actions.
