# US nurse practitioner opioid prescription investigations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-nurse-practitioner-opioid-prescription-investigations > Updated: 2026-09-08T03:00:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. Recent legal actions have targeted nurse practitioners in the United States for the illegal distribution and diversion of opioids. In one case, the Drug Enforcement Administration revoked the prescribing rights of Joan Rubinger, a pain specialist for professional athletes. Federal authorities alleged Rubinger engaged in a “covert and slinking” scheme, prescribing approximately 260,000 controlled substance pills across more than 20 states without legitimate medical purposes. Rubinger previously agreed to a $1.4 million settlement with the Justice Department regarding the distribution of substances such as oxycodone and Xanax. In a separate matter in Oregon, Sarah Georgine Peterson faces 18 felony counts of drug tampering and computer crime. Prosecutors allege Peterson used a computer to write nine false prescriptions for Oxycodone and Percocet to divert the drugs for her own use. Peterson is currently facing an arrest warrant following allegations that she violated a court agreement prohibiting contact with potential victims. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-08: Wallowa County nurse practitioner charged with opioid prescription tampering Nurse practitioner Sarah Georgine Peterson faces 18 felony counts for allegedly writing false opioid prescriptions to divert drugs to herself in Wallowa County, Oregon. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wallowa-county-nurse-practitioner-charged-with-opioid-prescription-tampering ### 2026-08-28: Joan Rubinger loses opioid prescribing rights after athlete investigation Former nurse practitioner Joan Rubinger had her opioid prescribing rights revoked following allegations of distributing 260,000 illegal pills to professional athletes across 20 states. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/joan-rubinger-loses-opioid-prescribing-rights-after-athlete-investigation --- Cite as: US nurse practitioner opioid prescription investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-nurse-practitioner-opioid-prescription-investigations