MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – A 45-year-old paramedic’s career with Islamorada Fire Rescue came to an abrupt end this week following allegations that he pocketed a controlled substance and doctored the paperwork to cover his tracks. Brian Keith Burt, a resident of Key Largo, was taken into custody on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, facing felony charges of grand theft of a controlled substance and fraud.
The investigation began earlier this month when Islamorada fire officials reached out to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on March 2. According to department reports, the trouble started after a standard medical call.
Authorities say Burt took a partially used vial of fentanyl—a powerful synthetic opioid—from an ambulance instead of disposing of it according to protocol. To hide the missing drug, investigators allege Burt forged the signature of a fellow paramedic on official disposal documents.
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The scheme fell apart when other crew members spotted red flags in the post-call documentation. Discrepancies between the medical records and the actual inventory of the drug prompted an internal review, which was quickly handed over to law enforcement.
Following the investigation, a judge signed off on warrants for Burt’s arrest.
He was booked into the local jail on Wednesday afternoon. Officials have confirmed that Burt is no longer employed by the department.
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