A Wisconsin pharmacist pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to smashing hundreds of Modern coronavirus vaccine doses.
Steven Brandenburg, 46, pleaded guilty to two felonies for “attempting to handle consumer products recklessly out of disregard for the risk of another person being in danger of death or bodily injury,” according to a Press release of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The charges carry a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
“This individual used his special access to manipulate vials of the much-needed COVID-19 vaccine. The FBI takes allegations of tampering with consumer products very seriously and will use all available resources to bring to justice those who intentionally endanger public health, “the FBI Special Agent said. Milwaukee, Robert Hughes, according to the statement.
Officials at Advocate Aurora Health Medical Center in Grafton, Washington, reported last month that an employee had intentionally removed more than 50 vials of the Modern Freezer Vaccine.
The incident was originally believed to be due to a “human error”, but it was later suspected that Brandenburg did it on purpose, believing the vaccine was “unsafe”.
The Modern vaccine still needs to be stored at colder temperatures in order to be effective. According to the DOJ, Brandenburg removed vaccines from the freezer for several hours on two consecutive nights. Fifty-seven people received doses of the vaccine from this batch before discovering Brandenburg’s actions.
The DOJ claims Brandenburg had expressed his feelings about the vaccines to his hospital co-workers for at least two years. His actions are estimated to have ruined more than 500 doses of the vaccine.
Brandenburg’s license was suspended earlier this month after he was arrested by authorities on charges of reckless danger, adulteration of prescription drugs and criminal damage to property.