Middle Georgia doctor, clinic staff face opioid charges

MACON — In light of the largest national health care fraud and opioid takedown of a middle Georgia doctor, Dr. Thomas H. Sachy and members of his clinic staff have been charged with the unlawful prescribing of opioids.

Charles E. Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Sachy, 54, Maureen Sachy, 79, and Evelyne Ennis, 51, of Gray, and Brandy Hamilton, 39, of Macon, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances. The defendants are accused of unlawfully dispensing and distributing Schedule I and Schedule IV controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both.

Thomas Sachy has also been charged with two counts of unlawful dispensation and distribution of controlled substances resulting in death and serious bodily injury. If convicted, he could face up to a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $1 million fine, or both.

Thomas and Maureen Sachy have both been charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises at the Georgia Pain and Behavioral Medicine clinic located in Gray and have been charged with a money-laundering conspiracy as well. If convicted of either of the charges, they could each face up to 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, or both.

Peeler said that the unlawful dispension of opioids is one of his office’s top priorities to prosecute.

“Dispensing opioids beyond what is medically necessary is not only unlawful, but has greatly contributed to what has been termed an opioid epidemic in our country,” Peeler said. “Our office will vigorously prosecute those who engage in this conduct, including, where appropriate, medical professionals.”

This case is part of the National Health Care Fraud and Opioid Takedown that was announced by the Department of Justice on June 28. According to the Department of Justice, the initiative has resulted in charges against 601 individuals responsible for more than $2 billion in fraud losses across 58 federal districts. In the northern, middle, and southern districts of Georgia, 12 defendants, two of whom were physicians, were charged in nine health care fraud, drug diversion or compounding pharmacy schemes involving $13.5 million in fraudulent billings.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that the Department of Justice has partnered with the FBI, the DEA, the HHS, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Medicare and more than 1,000 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officers from across America in the initiative. And, with every measure, he said, they are more effective at finding and prosecuting medical fraud.

“In many cases, doctors, nurses and pharmacists take advantage of people suffering from drug addiction in order to line their pockets,” Sessions said. “That’s why this Department of Justice has taken historic new steps to go after fraudsters, including hiring more prosecutors and leveraging the power of data analytics.”

The case of Sachy and members of his clinic staff was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency Tactical Diversion Squad-Atlanta Division Office, with assistance from the DEA Macon Regional Office, Department of Justice’s Document and Media Exploitation Program, Georgia Bureau of Investigation-Division of Forensic Services, Georgia Drug and Narcotic Agency, and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision.

“DEA is committed to ending the opioid crisis occurring in our communities and preventing prescription drug misuse,” DEA Assistant Administrator John Martin said. “DEA will continue to work with our partners every day to protect our citizens while ensuring that patients have adequate access to these critical medications.”

The case is being prosecuted on behalf of the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker.

If anyone has information related to this case or to any pharmaceutical drug abuse, they are encouraged to call the DEA Pharmaceutical Abuse Hotline at 1-877-RxAbuse or 1-877-792-2873.