Hospital pharmacist accused of sabotaging vaccines on a flat ear

GRAFTON, Wisconsin. – Recently unsealed court documents describe ex-Milwaukee suburban hospital pharmacist accused of sabotaging hundreds of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as an established conspiracy theorist who believes in unsubstantiated, unrooted ideas in effect – that the earth is flat, the vaccine is “microchipped” and can cause infertility, and would bring a gun to work “in case the army comes to take it”.

Steven Brandenburg, 46, of Grafton was charged last week in federal court in Milwaukee with two counts of attempted tampering with a consumer product and intends to plead guilty in that case. He also faces state charges for attempted property damage. He has pleaded not guilty in this case.

In a newly unsealed search warrant, Brandenburg’s assistant at Advocate Aurora Medical Center in Grafton alerted her supervisors to the discovery of a box containing 57 vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine – which health officials say , equates to hundreds of doses – out of refrigerated storage in the early morning of December 26.

Eventually, 57 people received the vaccine in question at a vaccination clinic that morning. On December 31, Aurora Lawyer Chief Medical Officer Dr Jeff Bahr told a press conference that the 57 doses given on December 26 were not harmful but were not effective.

Assistant Sarah Sticker told investigators she immediately suspected Brandenburg of withdrawing the vaccines. She said Brandenburg had been espousing conspiracy theories for months and voiced his beliefs against the vaccine, telling Sticker he didn’t believe the virus was real, that the vaccine is “microchipped”, will “turn off” birth control people, make others. infertile. Sticker said she had observed research in Brandenburg if there was a way to find out if the vaccines had been stored at the required temperature.

Sticker told federal agents that Brandenburg believed that “the earth is flat; the sky is not real, rather it is a shield put in place by the government to prevent individuals from seeing God; and on Judgment Day is coming, “according to court documents.

On her next shift, Sticker said Brandenburg was waiting for her to “talk” outside her cabin, confronting her, and worried Brandenburg would become “desperate” or “disturbed.” Brandenburg is currently in the process of divorce. Sticker added that Brandenburg had previously shown him a gun he brought to work, “in case the army comes and takes him”, according to a search warrant affidavit, and that she believed he was carrying it. on him during his work.

Messages left at a phone number listed on Sticker, as well as an email, were not immediately resent. When contacted by phone, Brandenburg lawyer Jason Baltz declined to comment.

According to an affidavit filed by Brandenburg’s wife on December 30, Brandenburg stopped by his wife’s house in early December and dropped off a water purifier and two 30-day supplies of food, telling her the world was “falling apart. And that she was in denial. He said the government was planning cyber attacks and was going to shut down the power grid. His wife added that he stored food and weapons in rental units.

A court commissioner concluded that the Brandenburg children were in imminent danger and temporarily banned them from staying with him.

The revelations in the case come from a search warrant filing as federal investigators sought to examine several Brandenburg electronic devices, including his cell phone and laptop, including any communications or files he might have regarding the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine and its internet history. What investigators found on these devices is not yet clear.

Brandenburg was charged in a lawsuit in federal court in Milwaukee last week, accused of recklessly neglecting the risk posed to another person by tampering with the vials. A plea agreement filed indicated that Brandenburg intended to plead guilty but has not yet officially pleaded.

In interviews with investigators from Advocate Aurora, Brandenburg initially said he must have missed or forgotten to put the box of vaccine back in the fridge while rearranging it. However, Brandenburg later admitted to intentionally removing the vaccine twice, first on the evening of December 24, before replacing it; and again on December 25, when Sticker found it early the next morning on the 26th.

Brandenburg then emailed investigators at the hospital on December 30, admitting to removing the vaccine from storage twice to make it ineffective, as he believes it damages people’s DNA. In the email, Brandenburg says that “his actions were inexcusable and I deeply apologize for the harm I have caused”, pointing to his ongoing divorce, stressing him out and that he “didn’t think clearly” ” regardless of my personal views on the vaccine issue. “

Brandenburg had his pharmacy license voluntarily suspended by a state council earlier this month, pending the outcome of criminal cases. A spokesperson for the Department of Safety and Professional Services informed FOX6 on Monday that an investigation is underway and, once completed, it will be presented to the pharmacy review board for review.

In a court hearing earlier this month, the Ozaukee District Attorney said vials removed from storage were being tested by Moderna to determine if they were still effective.

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Brandenburg has waived the indictment on the federal charges and is expected to appear before a federal judge by video conference, due to coronavirus precautions, next week. He is also expected to appear in Ozaukee County Court on state charges next month. He remains out of custody on bail.