PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (WBAY) – A former Wisconsin pharmacist accused of intentionally ruining doses of a COVID-19 vaccine has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges.
According to the plea agreement reached by Action 2 News, Steven Brandenburg is pleading guilty to two charges of reckless negligence due to the risk of death or personal injury.
Each charge can carry up to 10 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine, plus up to 3 years of supervised release.
As we reported earlier, Brandenburg admitted that he intentionally left the vaccine bottles out of the fridge twice overnight at Advocate Aurora Health in Grafton, where he worked. An Advocate Aurora Health official said 57 vials of Modern vaccine were damaged. They could have vaccinated more than 500 people.
According to court documents, investigators say Brandenburg admitted that he believes in conspiracy theories and thought that the vaccine transforms people’s DNA. (Experts say it works like other vaccines that prepare the body’s immune system against viruses; it does not alter its genetic code.)
A state council suspended Brandenburg’s license to practice pharmacy in Wisconsin earlier this month.
Online court records show that Brandenburg was also charged at the Ozaukee County Court for misdemeanor property damage.
Copyright 2021 from the Associated Press. All rights reserved.