ANDERSON, Ind. – A local nurse criminally charged with prescription fraud and dealing in controlled substances now faces a licensing complaint by Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office.

Paula Bolt, a registered nurse, is accused of diverting and obtaining narcotics through prescription fraud. The formal licensing complaint was filed today with the Indiana State Board of Nursing.

“Diverting narcotics and fraudulently writing prescriptions pose serious risks to public safety,” said Gabrielle Owens, Deputy Director of the Attorney General’s Licensing Enforcement and Homeowner Protection Unit. “Our priority is to ensure patients are protected and licensed professionals are held accountable.”

An INSPECT report, which is a compilation of controlled substance information, revealed that from July 2 to Sept. 17, Bolt obtained 1,290 hydrocodone and acetaminophen tablets. In October, Bolt was terminated from her job at Community Hospital Anderson for “an intolerable offense.”

Bolt was subsequently charged in Madison County with six counts of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit and five counts of Dealing in a Schedule I, II, III Controlled Substance – both felonies.

In October, the Attorney General’s Office filed a petition to suspend the nurse’s license for 90 days which the Indiana State Board of Nursing approved. The board has not yet set a date it will consider the licensing complaint against Bolt. Owens said it is up to the board to determine what if any disciplinary action will be taken.

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