Andrew Merdinyan License Emergency Suspension Order

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION

BOARD OF PHARMACY

In Re: Andrew Merdinyan, PhT ORDER OF EMERGENCY Docket No.: 25-PHARM-008 SUSPENSION – 12/17/2025

1. CASE SUMMARY/PROCEDURAL HISTORY:
   On 12/17/2025, the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy (“Board”) reviewed a Report of Investigation (“Report”) submitted by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, Division of Enforcement (“OPLC Enforcement”) pertaining to Andrew Merdinyan (“Respondent/Licensee”). On 12/17/2025, the OPLC Presiding Officer (Goulet, S.) swore OPLC Investigator Eric Goulet, who authored the Report, to facts alleged in paragraphs 1 through 27 of the Report under oath. Subsequently, the Presiding Officer and the Board suspended the Respondent’s license on an emergency basis pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and N.H. Code Admin. R., Title Plc 206.07 (“Plc”) (“Rules”). This Order of Emergency Suspension follows.

2. LEGAL STANDARD:
   “In cases involving imminent danger to public health, safety, or welfare, a board may order immediate suspension of a license or certification pending an adjudicative proceeding before the board to determine if the suspension should remain in place pending final adjudication of the matter.” RSA 310:12, IV. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification has further interpreted that to mean that the Board “…

shall issue an order that immediately suspends the respondent’s license based on: (1) [a] determination that there is a reasonable basis to believe that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action…” Rule 206.07(a)(1).

1. EVIDENCE PRESENTED AND FINDINGS OF FACT:

2. Evidence Presented
   The Board was presented with and/or considered the following evidence: the 12/09/2025 Report of Investigation pertaining to the Licensee, which was authored and sworn to under oath by Eric Goulet, OPLC Investigative Paralegal, OPLC Enforcement. A review of the evidence presented, and the reasonable inferences taken therefrom, allows the Board to find the facts set forth herein. Additionally, the Board relied upon their collective expertise within the profession they regulate.

3. Findings of Fact
   The Board hereby makes the following findings of fact.

4. The Board first granted the Licensee a license to practice as a Registered Pharmacy Technician on
   02/14/2025.

5. The Licensee’s license is current with an expiration date of 02/14/2027.

6. The Licensee worked as a Registered Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens Pharmacy #10410 in
   Littleton, NH from 08/01/2025 to 10/16/2025.

7. The Licensee worked as a Registered Pharmacy Technician at Rite-Aid Pharmacy, in Littleton,
   NH from 02/14/2025 to 08/01/2025.

8. On 10/16/2025, during an internal investigation by Walgreens Pharmacy, the Licensee made the
   following voluntary written statement: “I talked to Dan about missing medication from the store. I admitted to taking a few different types of medications. I told him everything that was addressed with me. From this I am not admitting any position on this subject matter. I directly answered each question from him. The medications were Clonazepam (approx. 6-12 pills), Diazepam (approx. 6- 12 pills), and Zolpidem (approx. 6-12 pills).”

9. On 10/17/2025, the OPLC Division of Enforcement was provided a report from Littleton P.D.
   detectives listing all of the drugs seized from the Licensee. Detectives reported that the drugs

seized “were located on his person and his residence which he admitted to taking from Walgreens.” The following drugs were seized by Littleton, PD after being found in possession of the Licensee:

1. TRAZODONE 50MG PILLS (QTY 3)
2. DIAZEPAM 10MG PILLS (QTY 9)
3. ALPRAZOLAM 1MG PILLS (QTY 26.5)
4. ALPRAZOLAM 0.5MG PILLS (QTY 3)
5. ALPRAZOLAM 0.25MG PILLS (QTY 7)
6. CARISOPRODOL 350MG PILLS (QTY 11)
7. TRAMADOL 50MG PILLS (QTY 21)
8. ZOLPIDEM 10MG PILLS (QTY 10)
9. CLONAZEPAM 2MG PILLS (QTY 17)
10. ALPRAZOLAM 2MG PILLS (QTY 30
11. BUPRENORPHINE 2MG PILLS (QTY 5)
12. TEMAZEPAM 30MG PILLS (QTY 26)
13. CLONAZEPAM 1MG PILLS (QTY 37)
14. CLONAZEPAM 0.5MG PILLS (QTY 46)
15. LORAZEPAM 2MG PILLS (QTY 68)

16. LORAZEPAM 1MG PILLS (QTY 49)

17. On 11/03/2025, the OPLC-Division of Enforcement (“Division”) received a complaint from
    Kaitlyn Simoneau, OPLC Pharmacy Inspector/Investigator, that on 10/16/2025, during a Walgreens Pharmacy internal investigation into recent pharmacy drug losses, the Licensee admitted in a signed written statement to taking numerous controlled substances from the Walgreens Pharmacy, Littleton NH without authorization.

18. Littleton PD Detectives reported that on 10/16/2025, during the voluntary search, they located and
    seized 368.5 individual pills/capsules located on the Licensee’s person and within his residence.

19. Littleton PD Detectives reported that the Licensee admitted to stealing the 368.5 individual
    pills/capsules from Walgreens Pharmacy, Littleton NH and further stated that he was not taking them personally.

20. Littleton PD Detectives confirmed that security footage exists showing the Licensee tampering
    with a patient’s prescription bottle that was waiting to be picked up. Detectives reported that the Licensee is observed putting pills back into a prescription bottle after removing the bottle from a customer’s prescription bag prior to pick-up.

21. Division Investigators confirmed with Littleton, PD that the Licensee’s employment at Walgreens
    Pharmacy was terminated on 10/16/2025.

22. Based on the board’s knowledge and expertise, pharmacy technician licenses are portable and a
    NH license in good standing would allow the Licensee to receive a license in another state.

23. The Licensee informed OPLC Division of Enforcement he would be leaving the state of NH.

24. Based on the board’s knowledge and expertise, there is a pharmacy technician shortage which
    would permit the Licensee to be hired at another pharmacy without a background check.

25. Based on the board’s knowledge and expertise, the pills/capsules found in Licensee’s possession
    were controlled substances that can only be obtained from a pharmacy.

26. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
    Based upon the Board’s findings of fact, the Presiding Officer concludes there is a reasonable basis to suspend the Licensee’s New Hampshire license on an emergency basis pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and Rule 206.07. The Board’s Findings of Fact reflect that the Licensee acknowledged taking a significant quantity of controlled substances from the Walgreens Pharmacy in Littleton N.H. without authorization. The Licensee currently remains licensed in a profession that would permit him to easily regain employment in the field. Based upon the foregoing, the Licensee's conduct on its face warrants an emergency suspension of his license pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and Rule 206.07, pending a follow-up emergency suspension hearing/disciplinary hearing. ORDER: Pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and Rule 206.07 (a) the Board and Presiding Officer hereby order the immediate emergency suspension of Andrew Merdinyan’s license as a pharmacy technician, pending a follow up emergency hearing in this matter. A Notice of Emergency Hearing is attached.

DATED: 12/17/2025 /s/ Shane D. Goulet, Presiding Officer Shane D. Goulet, Administrative Law Judge New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure & Certification 7 Eagle Square Concord, NH 03301