Sammy Becdach, accused of illegally prescribing drugs, sentenced

DECATUR, Ala. (WAF) – A former Decatur oncologist accused of illegally prescribing drugs was convicted Wednesday after a federal hearing, according to court documents obtained by WAFF.

Sammy Becdach is accused of writing prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines to people who were not his patients, including a woman he was in a romantic relationship with, court documents show.

In December 2020, a woman with whom Becdach was in a relationship died of a morphine and fentanyl overdose, according to court documents. The woman’s family claims Becdac gave her opioid pills, including oxycodone.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program data established in 2018 and 2019 showed Becdach also had opioid prescriptions written for her, according to court documents.

Following a medical examination by the state board, court documents state that Becdach’s medical license was revoked for unprofessional conduct.

On Wednesday, Becdach was sentenced to 24 months in prison, one of his attorneys, Tommy Spina, told WAFF. The remaining charges on his indictment have reportedly been dismissed and he will also have to pay $100,000.

Becdach will receive credit for the five months he has already served in custody awaiting sentencing, and will serve 85% of the 24-month sentence.

Following Becdach’s release from federal custody, he will be on supervised release for three years. Of the three years, he must be confined at home for one year, dependent on an ankle monitor, Spina told WAFF.

The government asked Becdach to serve a 37-month (three years, one month) federal prison sentence.

Becdach’s attorneys, Spina and Jerry Barclay, said they were grateful the judge imposed a reasonable sentence.

“I ask that you not judge Sammy for the three years of his life when things were bad for him,” Spina said. “He has led an otherwise exemplary life by caring for other people in a positive way. He has a plan for his future and looks forward to hopefully becoming a positive member of society sooner or later.”

Becdach pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful distribution and dispensing of a controlled substance by September 2024, according to the Department of Justice.

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