PA Pharmacy Technician Stole 90,000 Pills: AG

WARREN COUNTY, PA — A Northwestern PA pharmacy technician is facing several felony charges after diverting nearly 90,000 prescription pills for her workplace.

Alyssa R. McDowell, 34, is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, theft by unlawful taking and several related misdemeanors.

According to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, McDowell diverted nearly 90,000 prescription pills — Oxycodone and Hydrocodone — from Sheffield Pharmacy in Warren County over a four-year period.

“This defendant used her position to obtain a massive amount of highly-addictive medications,” Sunday said in a statement. “This type of conduct fuels a prescription drug abuse crisis that, so often, leads to individuals using fentanyl and heroin.”

McDowell is accused of diverting 80,926 Oxycodone pills and 8,744 Hydrocodone pills between January 2022 and May 2026.. McDowell ordered extra bottles, which she took for herself, then altered paperwork to try to conceal the thefts.