by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First
A New Hampshire registered nurse pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Burlington on Friday to diverting drugs from psychiatric ward patients and tampering with medications at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in White River Junction for at least nine months last year.
Kimberly A. Cotto, 65, of Enfield, N.H. admitted that she took amphetamine/dextroamphetamine capsules from various patients and diverted the drugs to herself between March 2025 and Nov. 20, 2025, records show. She separated the capsules in half, removed the regulated ingredients, and then put the empty or nearly empty capsules back in circulation so they could be provided to patients, records show.
“Victim 1 suffered the effects of the missing medication, as Victim 1 both experienced hearing more voices and engaged in uncontrolled behavior on two occasions,” Cotto’s signed plea agreement noted. The illegal drug diversion impacted the VA patients, officials said.
Cotto “was aware that such bodily injury could occur, and acted in reckless disregard of that risk, because Victim 1 was her patient on the inpatient psychiatric ward,” her 10-page plea agreement said.
She acknowledged she removed methylphenidate tablets from their packaging, replaced them with hydroxyzine tablets and administered them to victims.
Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methylphenidate also is used to treat ADHD.
Cotto also pleaded guilty to a second felony count of knowingly and intentionally acquiring amphetamine/dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate through both fraud and deception while working as a registered nurse at the VA between March 2025 and Nov. 20, 2025 in Vermont.
Under the plea deal, Cotto has agreed to forfeit the nursing license issued by the state of New Hampshire. She agreed to also forfeit any other proceeds or property obtained through her crimes.
The former Rutland County woman held a license as a registered nurse in Vermont starting in 1996 before moving to New Hampshire. She told the court that she had both associate and bachelor degrees in nursing.
Senior Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford said the plea agreement capped the proposed sentence at 24 months in prison, but it was up to him to accept or reject the deal.
The maximum penalty for the two crimes is 14 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. She also could be placed on federal supervised conditions for up to 3 years after her discharge from prison, the judge noted.
Under questioning from Crawford, Cotto indicated she had sought drug help at Sana in Stowe, a high-end residential treatment and recovery facility for substance use disorders on the Mountain Road. She told the judge it was very useful, “if you have to send somebody.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Golubock outlined in open court the specific details of the two criminal charges for the judge before Cotto formally entered her guilty pleas.
Cotto has been cooperating with authorities since the investigation began by the VA Police in White River Junction. She told the government she was willing to waive having a federal grand jury consider her case and determine what charges were appropriate. Instead she agreed to plead guilty to two felony charges filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banker.
Crawford agreed to allow Cotto to remain free pending sentencing, which is planned for Oct. 23 in Burlington.
He told Cotto she could not possess any weapons, alcohol or drugs, including marijuana, which remains a federal crime. Crawford also told Cotto he expected she would be supervised by the federal probation office in New Hampshire pending her sentencing. Her travel is limited to New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, the judge ruled.
The judge ordered the U.S Probation Office to prepare a Presentence Investigation Report before the sentencing.
Crawford also explained to Cotto that with a felony conviction she will lose, depending on the state, some civil rights, including the ability to vote, hold public office and possessing a firearm.
After the hearing defense lawyer Murdoch Walker II of Atlanta, Ga. told Vermont News First that his client would have no comment to offer.
VA Police Chief Jack Pearce did not respond to an inquiry about the crimes.
The Diversion Control Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration and the Inspector General’s Office of the VA also assisted in the investigation.
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