A Manhattan woman has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for diverting prescription pain killers. 35 year old Katherine Surowski, who had been working at a Kmart in Salina when the crimes occurred, was sentenced to four years today (Monday), according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom in Wichita.
Surowski had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and one count of health care fraud. In her plea, Surowski admitted that in 2009 she conspired with co-defendants Christine Swanson, a registered nurse, and Denise Carlson, a licensed practical nurse, to distribute and dispense oxydcodone and oxycontin. Swanson is also Surowski’s sister.
Forged prescriptions were taken to Surowski to be filled. More than 2400 pills of the two drugs were diverted.
Surowski’s sentence is the most of the three women, with Swanson sentenced to three years and Carlson to two years in federal prison.
