Former paramedic pleads guilty to diluting drugs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A former paramedic pleaded guilty Monday to diluting vials of painkiller supplied to an ambulance company in the Kansas City suburb of Pleasant Valley. Craig J. Starr, 40, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of tampering with consumer products. As part of a plea agreement, eight other counts were dismissed. U.S. Attorney Todd P. Graves said there was no direct evidence that the vials of Demerol were used for patients. Graves said Starr used the drug for treatment of his own medical condition, and there was no evidence that he tried to illegally sell it to anyone else. Starr could be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

His sentencing has not been scheduled, pending a pre-sentencing report.