Le Mars, IA (NorthwestIowaNow) — A former Le Mars nurse has been sentenced to federal prison for diverting prescription narcotics and falsifying medical records.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, 49-year-old Chad Hoppe was sentenced July 9 to 30 months in federal prison.

He pleaded guilty to charges of false statements relating to health care matters and aggravated identity theft.

Prosecutors say Hoppe diverted fentanyl and dilaudid for his own use between May 2024 and March 2025 while working as a registered nurse in Iowa. Court records show he entered false orders for narcotics and falsely claimed he had authorization from a physician.

Authorities noted that in March 2025 alone, Hoppe withdrew more than 9,000 micrograms of fentanyl while serving in a supervisory role. The next-highest employee at the same facility withdrew approximately 700 micrograms during the same month.

Hoppe was additionally ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and will serve a one-year term of supervised release following his release from custody.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Investigations Division’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.