Georgia News
Georgia News

Macon doctor faces prison for illegal opioid prescriptions

These Two States Have Been Hit Hardest by the Opioid Crisis
By The Associated Press
June 22, 2021

MACON — A Georgia doctor faces time in federal prison after admitting that he illegally dispensed prescription opioids.

ExploreOpioid epidemic hits close to home for former Roswell judge

Hours before his federal trial was set to begin, Dr. Thomas Sachy of Gray pleaded guilty Monday to one count of unlawful dispensation of controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Macon said in a news release. Sachy, 57, faces up to eight years in prison followed by at least three years of supervised release.

Sachy admits having issued prescriptions for oxycodone and lisdexamfetamine without a legitimate medical purpose, according to court documents.

In addition to prison time, Sachy agreed as part of his plea agreement to forfeit about $833,000 in money and property, including his medical office building. He also agreed that while he's serving his sentence, including supervised release once he's out of prison, he will not practice medical pain management, treat anyone for pain or try to have his federal license to prescribe controlled substances reinstated.

ExploreUGA gets $1.4 million to study opioid crisis

Sachy was taken into custody after entering a guilty plea, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 7.

More Stories

Keep Reading

Cranes and construction equipment are poised to turn this worksite into a 444-room Signia by Hilton Hotel next to the Savannah Convention Center. (Adam Van Brimmer/AJC)

Credit: Adam Van Brimmer

Savannah has a bigger convention hall. Next up? More hotel rooms next door.

Construction has begun on a 444-room hotel adjacent to the Savannah Convention Center, a lodging project 15 years and three false starts in the making.

ICE detaining immigrants for long periods in Atlanta field office basement

More than 1,200 people have been held in excess of 24 hours this year in Atlanta's ICE field office — a facility not built for long-term detention.

Stopping the spread of coyotes may be a lost cause

Coyotes now live in all of Georgia's 159 counties, including suburban and rural areas. Trying to stop their spread might be a futile effort.

The Latest

Cranes and construction equipment are poised to turn this worksite into a 444-room Signia by Hilton Hotel next to the Savannah Convention Center. (Adam Van Brimmer/AJC)

Credit: Adam Van Brimmer

Savannah has a bigger convention hall. Next up? More hotel rooms next door.

2 Georgia Republicans seeking to beat Democratic US Sen. Jon Ossoff each raise nearly $2 million

Winning numbers drawn in Sunday’s Georgia Fantasy 5

Featured

Amy Bielawski, who runs Hare-Brained Productions, prepares to work at a Fall Festival in Stone Mountain on Oct. 4, 2025. Bielawski is worried she may not be able to afford health care through Georgia Access when subsidies expire. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Massive ACA price hikes revealed as Georgia Access window shopping opens early

Some premium prices are more than tripling as ACA pandemic-era subsidies expire nationwide. The issue prompted the congressional shutdown.

Here’s what could replace Midtown’s Cheetah Lounge strip club

The plan to demolish one of Atlanta’s most famous strip clubs to make way for a high-rise student housing tower is starting to come into focus.

Paulding student, 6, found unresponsive in pool during field trip

A staff member noticed around noon Wednesday that the McGarity Elementary student was missing, authorities say.

1h ago