Duquesne woman accused of stealing $500K worth of opioid-addiction remedy

A Duquesne woman is accused of stealing from her former employer more than $500,000 worth of a drug used to treat opioid addiction.

Rena Lynne Schleehauf, 33, is charged with delivery and possession of a controlled substance, theft and theft by deception.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Schleehauf has admitted to stealing 66,180 units of Suboxone between August 2016 and July 25, 2019, from Johnson’s Pharmaceutical Services.

She worked at the West Mifflin business as a lead pharmacy fill technician. The business serves assisted living facilities.

Schleehauf, who supervised the company’s inventory and ordered medications when necessary, stole Suboxone from the inventory after ordering the drug from Johnson’s supplier, Shapiro said.

When the theft was discovered, Johnson’s conducted an audit and found the drug had been ordered only when Schleehauf was working, he said.

“Time and again this defendant ordered drugs, paid for them with company funds, removed them from the company’s inventory once they arrived and then loaded them into her car when no one was watching,” Shapiro said. He said surveillance video showed Schleehauf placing boxes of the drug in her car.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Katherine Jordan prosecuted the case. Office of Attorney General Narcotics Agent James Embree and the West Mifflin Police Department investigated.

According to court documents, Schleehauf was arraigned Friday before District Judge Richard D. Olasz Jr. in West Mifflin and was released on non-monetary bail. She faces a preliminary hearing on Thursday.