CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A Fluvanna County pharmacist has been indicted on federal charges alleging he stole prescription opioids and amphetamines and replaced liquid hydromorphone with water, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday charges Joshua Joseph Walden, 52, a former pharmacist at Jefferson Pharmacy in Palmyra, with one count of tampering and attempting to tamper with consumer products, two counts of theft of pre-retail medical products and one count of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud.
According to court records, Walden worked as a pharmacist at Jefferson Pharmacy beginning in or before July 2023 and remained there until resigning in February 2025.
Federal prosecutors allege that during his employment, Walden stole liquid opioids and amphetamines for his own use.
He is also accused of tampering with prescription medications, including replacing liquid hydromorphone with water, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person could be placed in danger of death or bodily injury.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Virginia State Police are investigating the case.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert N. Tracci for the Western District of Virginia announced the charges. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne is prosecuting the case.
