HARRISBURG, PA (WENY) -- A 46-year-old a Bradford County nurse practitioner pleaded guilty to prescribing medications without a collaborating doctor and false billing. According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, Stefanie King of Ulster has also been ordered to pay roughly $450,000 in restitution.

“The defendant abused her position of trust by engaging in conduct that served herself and violated a system meant to assist our most vulnerable residents,” said Michelle Henry, state attorney general for Pennsylvania in a prepared statement.

During the investigation into King it was found that she falsely billed in excess of $300,000 to private insurers, as well as roughly $100,000 to the Commonwealth. She was also discovered to have written over 3,750 prescriptions to patients while not meeting the requirements to prescribe under Pennsylvania law.

Authorities say King entered into a sexual relationship with a patient that began in November of 2016 at her Athens practice. During that time, she billed a private insurer for time they were spending together. King was also found to have been in another relationship with a patient, prescribing him controlled substances after discontinuing medical care once the relationship began. 

In total King pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Controlled Substance Act- Obtained by Subterfuge, one count of Medicaid Fraud, one felony count of Insurance Fraud and one felony count of violating the Controlled Substance Act- Delivery by Practitioner. As part of her plea King has agreed not to practice as a nurse for the duration of her sentence and also voluntarily surrendered her license to practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner.

“My office is committed to holding accountable those who put patients at risk and compromise our health care programs," Henry said.