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Doctor Admits to Unlawfully Prescribing Pain Pills to Kentuckians

A former Georgia physician has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally providing pain medication to thousands of Kentuckians.

Fifty-eight-year-old Michael Johnston appeared in U.S. District Court in Kentucky Thursday and admitted he conspired with the owner of a Georgia pain clinic to distribute Oxycodone and Xanax to residents of several Kentucky counties, including Laurel, Rockcastle, Pulaski, and Whitley. 

The former doctor acknowledged he ignored the fact the patients were addicts and likely selling the drugs for profit upon their return to Kentucky.  Many of the patients at the clinic were seen by non-physicians and received little or no medical examination before being prescribed pain pills.  The clinic operated on a cash-only basis and Johnston said he was encouraged to see as many patients per day, as possible. 

Johnston will serve ten years in prison after his sentencing in January.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.