A doctor from Harrison County, Michael Gainey, aged 70, has admitted to seven counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove.
Gainey, a family medicine specialist in Harrison County, acknowledged prescribing controlled substances to patients with whom he had personal relationships. According to the plea agreement, these prescriptions were outside legitimate medical practice standards. The agreement details ongoing relationships with seven patients for whom Gainey wrote numerous prescriptions for drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and gabapentin.
The guilty plea was announced by Paul C. McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge at the DEA's Louisville Field Division.
The investigation was carried out by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone.
Gainey's sentencing is set for June 30. He could face up to 20 years in prison per count and a $1 million fine. The court will determine his sentence based on federal guidelines and statutes.
