Former anesthesiologist arrested on four charges

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: July 18, 2008

A former Prince William Hospital anesthesiologist was arrested on four criminal charges Thursday—two weeks after authorities received a call of suspicious findings in a doctor's bunkroom, police said Friday.

Dr. Carlos Ocampo, 38, of 5438 Long Boat Court in Fairfax, turned himself in to police Thursday and was charged with prescription fraud, grand larceny, identity theft and computer fraud, said Sgt. Tim Neumann, Manassas City police spokesman.

An investigation began the morning of July 3 when the Manassas hospital contacted the police department after a cleaning person found used IV bags, needles and medication in a bunkroom, police said.

Police identified Ocampo as a suspect and allege that while off duty he self-administered medication to "flush his system," a police news release states.

In order to administer the medication, Ocampo used a patient's information to access the computer that controls the dispensing, which requires that a patient be assigned the medication and that information be entered, according to a criminal complaint on file at Prince William County Circuit Court.

He is accused of using $230 worth of property belonging to the hospital, including the pharmaceutical drugs Marcaine, Rocuronium Bromide and Propofol, the criminal complaint states.

The document lists three bags of intravenous fluids, intravenous tubing and intravenous catheters as the other property used.

Prince William Hospital spokeswoman Donna Ballou said the hospital is cooperating with police in the criminal investigation and has turned the case over to the state medical board for review and "possible further action."

"At this time, we believe it was an isolated incident," she said Friday.

Ocampo resigned July 7 after being with the hospital for two years, Ballou said.

He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 19.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.