Nurse Practitioner Jessica Friday Sentenced to Prison After Illegally Prescribing Opioids

Jessica Friday, an advanced practice nurse practitioner from Appleton, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawfully distributing opioid medications outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.

Her case is a stark reminder to nurses of how quickly boundary violations around prescribing and diversion can turn into federal felony convictions, patient harm, and the loss of a nursing career.

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What Happened in the Jessica Friday Case?

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Friday on December 18, 2025, to 16 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Court records show that on August 13, 2025, she pleaded guilty to one count of “distribution of controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate purpose.”

Prosecutors say the charge stemmed from unlawful prescribing that occurred between 2020 and 2024, during which Friday wrote prescriptions for opioids, including oxycodone, without medical necessity. She was working as an advanced practice nurse practitioner in the Fox Valley area when the conduct occurred.

How Her Unlawful Prescribing Worked

According to federal court documents, Friday entered into an arrangement with some patients where they agreed to fill prescriptions for opioids that were not medically necessary and then give “half, or more, of the pills” back to her for her personal use. Prosecutors state that Friday knew the people she was prescribing to “did not need the opiates,” that they were “vulnerable for reasons of their mental health and addiction,” and that they were “selling at least some of the pills they retained” from these unlawful prescriptions.

In describing the pattern, the Department of Justice characterized it as a scheme in which Friday used her prescriptive authority to fuel her own addiction while also placing highly addictive substances into the community without legitimate medical purpose. Reports indicate that she also kept some of the diverted opioids for her personal consumption while patients either used or sold their share.

What the Judge and Prosecutors Said

In announcing the sentence, Judge Stadtmueller highlighted what he called a serious “abuse of a position of trust” and referenced the “staggering” volume of prescriptions Friday issued without medical need. He also emphasized the need to deter other medical professionals from engaging in similar unlawful prescribing practices.

U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel issued a sharply worded statement about the case, saying: “Rather than providing legitimate care as a medical professional, this defendant fueled and supplied her own addiction. In the process, she simply became another drug dealer, another source of supply for putting highly addictive substances in the hands of others for no medical purpose.” Schimel added that his office remains committed to working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other law enforcement partners “to combat this epidemic.”

Consequences for Friday and Key Takeaways

Under the federal sentence, Friday will serve 16 months in prison followed by a three year term of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie F. Stewart.

Separate from the criminal case, nurses can reasonably expect state licensing authorities to take disciplinary action that could include suspension or revocation of her license and restrictions on future practice, especially around prescribing controlled substances.

For bedside nurses, APRNs, and nursing students, this case underscores several critical points: 

• Prescriptive authority always comes with strict legal and ethical boundaries.
• “Informal” arrangements with patients regarding controlled substances are criminal, not compassionate.
• Diverting medications, even while struggling with personal addiction, puts patients, the public, and one’s entire career at risk.

If you or a colleague are struggling with substance use or ethical boundaries around prescribing, reach out for help now so you can protect your patients, your license, and your future in nursing.

 

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Crime