Nurse at Hidalgo County jail charged with stealing meds from inmates

Only have a minute? Listen instead
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Jaime Mata

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 48-year-old nurse who worked at the county jail for stealing medication prescribed to inmates under his care.

Jaime Mata is charged with two counts diversion of a controlled substance by registrants, dispensers and other certain persons and a count of tampering with a government record, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The investigation was initiated after reports were received of discrepancies in medication management at the detention center.

“During the investigation, surveillance footage from the detention center was reviewed, which revealed Mata taking prescribed medication from inmates’ pill containers,” the release stated. “Additionally, Mata was found to have forged medical records to falsify pill counts in an attempt to conceal his actions.”

Mata received a total of $22,000 in bonds.

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and other charges are possible. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at (956) 383-8114.