A Monroe County grand jury has indicted two top officials with Monroe County Fire Rescue and Trauma Star air ambulance for reportedly providing false information and engaging in official misconduct in an investigation into drug use and drug theft by the chief flight nurse.
Grand jury indictments have been issued against Dr. Sandra Schwemmer and Monroe County Fire Rescue Division Chief Andrea Thompson, according to Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward.
Late Friday, the county was in the process of terminating its contract with Schwemmer’s company, effective immediately, according to a news release from Monroe County Public Information Officer Kristen Livengood sent Friday afternoon. The county paid Schwemmer’s company $124,842.50 annually to provide medical director services for MCFR’s paramedics and flight nurses.
Key West Fire Rescue Medical Director Dr. Antonio Gandia has agreed to step in and become Monroe County’s temporary medical director and will assist MCFR in any capacity needed.
Thompson has been suspended without pay pending a pre-determination hearing, Livengood said in the release. Deputy Chief R.L. Colina will directly oversee the division, effective immediately. The pre-determination hearing, which is used to review an employee’s status following an arrest or other disciplinary action, has not yet been set. Thompson’s total annual salary is $151,127.87.
The latest indictments follow the grand jury’s decision last week to indict former MCFR Chief Flight Nurse Lynda Rusinowski, who was involved in medical drug-related misconduct within the department. Rusinowski resigned on Aug. 19, 2022 before a pre-determination meeting was scheduled.
“These are serious criminal charges brought forward from a separate review by the State Attorney’s Office independent of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigation, and we are taking these allegations very seriously,” said Acting County Administrator Kevin Wilson. “We will follow due process during our internal investigations while we await formal court proceedings. Our first priority is to ensure that the county’s emergency services continue to provide excellent care to our residents and visitors without interruptions.”
Dr. Schwemmer, the medical director of Monroe County Fire Rescue and Trauma Star program, is charged with one count of official misconduct, one count of providing false information to law enforcement and one count of altering patient records, Ward said. Bond for Dr. Schwemmer has been set at $100,000.
Thompson, division chief of EMS and Trauma Star, faces a total of nine counts. These include two counts of official misconduct, one count of providing false information to law enforcement, two felony counts of destroying evidence, three counts felony counts of obstructing justice and two felony counts of fraud. Bond for Thompson has been set at $250,000, according to Ward.
The bonds for both individuals were set and signed by Judge Mark Wilson.
Last week, the grand jury returned an indictment on Rusinowski on 36 charges stemming from the theft of drugs from the air ambulance system.
“This case, along with last week’s indictment, underscores our commitment to holding public servants accountable for their actions," Ward stated in a news release Friday. "The charges against Dr. Sandra Schwemmer and Andrea Thompson reflect serious violations of public trust, and our office will pursue justice with the full weight of the law. No one is above the law, especially those entrusted with public safety and the welfare of our community.”
The indictment against Rusinowski includes 10 counts of grand theft of controlled substances and 26 counts of official misconduct. Rusinowski is accused of illegally obtaining fentanyl, Dilaudid, Versed, ketamine and morphine from Monroe County Fire Rescue, according to the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office. Additionally, she is alleged to have falsified official records to conceal these thefts, the indictment stated.
The investigation began in June 2022 when Monroe County Fire Rescue reported discrepancies in its controlled substance logs. Officials discovered that approximately 16 pre-filled morphine syringes were missing. Further investigation uncovered false entries in the various controlled substance logs.
In July of that year, Rusinowski was confronted by fire officials with the discrepancies. She allegedly admitted she was responsible and asked for drug treatment. She was taken to a detox center in West Palm Beach, according to prosecutors.
In September 2022, deputies arrested Rusinowski on charges related to the theft of the morphine syringes and falsification of controlled substance logs.
The new indictments are related to the original investigation and additional evidence, prosecutors said.
Thompson and Schwemmer could not be reached for comment on Friday.
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