Lexington APRN faces federal prison over fraudulent Adderall prescriptions

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington-area nurse practitioner pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to charges she illegally prescribed Adderall to multiple patients and then bought back some of those prescriptions for her own use.

Lindsey Eloka Heyer McAlpine, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), admitted to obtaining amphetamine, commonly known as Adderall, through “misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge,” according to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

McAlpine faces up to four years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and one year of supervised release. She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell in Lexington on August 29, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

According to her plea agreement, McAlpine worked as a nurse practitioner at various medical clinics in Lexington between January 3, 2021, and August 3, 2023. During this period, she prescribed Adderall—classified as a Schedule II controlled substance—to four individuals identified in court documents only by their initials.

Prosecutors said McAlpine did not maintain proper patient records or prescription documentation. Instead, she intentionally prescribed more medication than necessary, later repurchasing the prescriptions for personal consumption. She also reportedly made false statements on some prescription documents, further obscuring her actions.

Federal sentencing guidelines recommend additional penalties for McAlpine because she abused her position of trust and used her special skills as a healthcare provider to facilitate the offense.

As part of the plea, McAlpine agreed to surrender her Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number voluntarily within five days, which revokes her ability to prescribe controlled substances legally.

Prosecutors recommended releasing McAlpine on conditions ahead of sentencing, contingent on compliance with the terms of her pre-sentence release agreement.

This guilty plea waives McAlpine’s right to appeal her conviction, except under specific conditions, including if her sentence exceeds recommended guidelines.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman prosecuted the case for the Eastern District of Kentucky, while Pamela D. Perlman represented McAlpine.