A surgical nurse has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for stealing surgical supplies from the New Jersey hospital where she worked and selling them on eBay at discounted prices.
Angela Devarso will spend the next 2 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of New Jersey. She's also been ordered to pay back the more than $300,000 in surgical supplies and equipment she stole from St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson from July 2008 to October 2009.
Court records show that Ms. Devarso, 34, repeatedly used her position as a surgical nurse to access the hospital's operating rooms in order to swipe surgical blades, autoclaveable laparoscopes, a surgical camera, and "large quantities" of sterile sutures, staples and vials.
She would load the supplies and equipment in a large bag, sneak them out of the hospital and sell the stolen goods on the Internet to buyers from other states, according to court documents.
Ms. Devarso reportedly resorted to stealing the supplies and equipment when the financial pressures of caring for her ill parents became too much. She is said to be remorseful, aware of the poor choices she made and willing to make amends.
During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler chided Ms. Devarso for resorting to crime even though "millions of people are in exactly the same kind of situation you were in."
Representatives from St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Ms. Devarso's defense attorney was not immediately available.
Daniel Cook
