A former Decatur oncologist pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing opioids to people who weren’t his patients, then funneling the pills to women with whom he was romantically involved.
Sammy Fuad Becdach, 57, pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala to two counts of unlawful distribution and dispensing of a controlled substance.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13. The maximum penalty for drug distribution is 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
According to the plea agreement, Becdach worked as an oncologist in Decatur. From 2018 through 2021, Becdach wrote illegal prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodone and hydrocodone, to three people who were not his patients.
The three then filled the prescriptions at Becdach’s request and gave him the pills they received. Becdach then gave some pills to women with whom he was romantically involved.
In August 2022, the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama revoked Becdach’s medical license for unprofessional conduct related to his romantic relationship with a woman to whom he had written opioid prescriptions who later died from a drug overdose.
The DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward is prosecuting the case.
