The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has revoked the license of Akasha Brown, a pharmacist technician trainee in Dubuque, following allegations that she stole hundreds of prescription pills from her employer. The regulatory action stems from charges that Brown stole prescription drugs for distribution or personal use, attempted to unlawfully obtain drugs, and engaged in unethical conduct or deceptive representations harmful to the public.
Evidence of Theft
The investigation began in 2025 while Brown was employed at Hartig Drug Company. The board learned that the pharmacy had filed a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration form reporting the theft of controlled substances by an employee, naming Brown as the suspect.
The stolen medications included:
- 168 tablets of alprazolam (Xanax), used for anxiety disorders.
- 100 capsules of methylphenidate ER, a stimulant used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
To support the claims, the pharmacy provided state officials with surveillance video stills. The board alleges the photos show Brown placing medications from a shelf into her coat pocket, leaving the pharmacy with the coat, and returning nine minutes later without it.
Conflicting Statements
Brown told a board investigator that she did not take the drugs intentionally, claiming she forgot the medication was in her pocket and only found it later in her laundry at home. Brown allegedly told staff, I contacted (Hartig) and told them, ‘Hey, I found (the medication). I have it. It was in my laundry,’
adding that she kept the bottle as proof.
However, the board alleges that Brown later told investigators she did not keep the bottles or the medication. In its decision to revoke the license, the board noted that Brown provided conflicting statements and never returned the medication or the bottles to the pharmacy.
Legal Status
While the pharmacy reportedly notified Dubuque police about the incident, court records show that no criminal charges were filed in the case. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach Brown for comment.
