A Harrison County physician, Michael Gainey, 70, has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for unlawfully distributing controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove handed down the sentence on Wednesday after Gainey pleaded guilty to seven counts of unlawful distribution.
Gainey, a family medicine specialist in Harrison County, admitted to prescribing controlled substances such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and gabapentin to at least seven patients with whom he had ongoing personal relationships. According to court documents, these prescriptions were issued outside the scope of legitimate medical practice and began as early as 2015, continuing through the fall of 2023.
Federal law requires that Gainey serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. Upon release, he will be under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
“While the nature of the opioid epidemic in Kentucky has changed, bad prescriptions for these highly addictive drugs continue to be contributing factor,” said Acting United States Attorney Paul McCaffrey. “Solving this crisis requires a zero-tolerance policy for physicians like Dr. Gainey who intentionally abuse their prescribing authority.”
“The vast majority of doctors take their oath to first do no harm very seriously, but every now and then we arrest one that is just a drug dealer in a white lab coat, like Dr. Gainey,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “Dr. Gainey chose to put his own needs above those of his patients and now he will have to answer for his misdeeds.”
The case was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey along with DEA Special Agent in Charge Scott and Director Mark Burden of the Bluegrass Narcotics Taskforce. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Bluegrass Narcotics Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone prosecuted the case.
