Hawkeye Reporter

Megan Elsbury, a 43-year-old pharmacist from Mason City, Iowa, has been sentenced to one month in federal prison. This follows her guilty plea on February 7, 2025, to the charge of acquiring a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge.

Elsbury admitted in a plea agreement that she had been employed at least three different pharmacies in Mason City from 2008 to 2023. During this period, she diverted controlled substances such as codeine, phentermine, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, pregabalin, and tramadol for personal use. She created unauthorized prescriptions and falsified prescription records and inventory under existing patients' names. These actions primarily took place when the pharmacy was closed. Elsbury filled these prescriptions herself and used them personally.

United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Elsbury in Sioux City to one month of imprisonment. Following her prison term, she is required to serve a one-year term of supervised release. There is no parole option available within the federal system.

Elsbury was released on bond and must surrender to the United States Marshals by July 14, 2025.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.