A Kerrville man, Scott Mitchell Brown, 38, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, theft of government property, and possession of stolen mail in a federal court in San Antonio.
Court documents revealed that Brown, employed as a pharmacy technician at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Kerrville, orchestrated a plan to pilfer narcotics meant for VA patients. Exploiting his position, Brown stole the narcotics and sold them for profit to individuals in Kerr County.
Brown's co-conspirators, John Swiencki and David Jeffrey Hughes Jr., were also involved in the illegal activity. Swiencki, who introduced Brown to Hughes, received a 12-month prison sentence in September 2022. Hughes, sentenced to 35 months in prison in December 2022, collaborated with Brown in breaking into mailboxes to steal prescribed narcotics from veterans.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas condemned Brown's actions, labeling them a "repugnant betrayal" of the nation's veterans who rely on the VA for care and support. Esparza emphasized the commitment of his office and the Department of Justice to pursue justice for those who have served the country.
Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the VA Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office echoed Esparza's sentiments, emphasizing that the theft of controlled substances meant for veterans cannot be tolerated. Raper highlighted the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies in investigating the case.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, VA Police, Kerr County Sheriff's Office, Kerrville Police Department, and Kerr County District Attorney's Office.
