Atlanta gynecologist, pharmacists convicted in massive ‘pill mill’ operation

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This illustrative image shows oxycodone tablets, an opioid painkiller, delivered on a doctor’s prescription taken on September 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. Millions of Americans have fallen into addiction after using powerful opioid painkillers that companies use.

ATLANTA – Thirteen people, including a gynecologist and two Atlanta-based pharmacists, were convicted of helping operate a “pill mill” ring that allegedly distributed and prescribed large quantities of prescription drugs to drug addicts and drug dealers. drug.

Anthony Mills, a physician licensed to practice medicine, particularly gynecology, in Georgia since 1997, was one of the defendants.

Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said Mills operated the pill mill since at least October 2018. Buchanan claimed Mills issued prescriptions for hundreds of controlled substances, such as large amounts of oxycodone, to drug addicts and to sponsors of drug trafficking in exchange for money. .

Buchanan said Mills failed to obtain prior medical records for his patients, perform physical examinations or establish a valid patient-doctor relationship with any of them before issuing the prescriptions. In fact, Mills was accused of writing some of these prescriptions on behalf of people whose identities had been stolen, incarcerated, or deceased.

“Pharmaceuticals distributed for non-medical purposes can be just as deadly as illicit drugs,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Division.

According to the attorney, many of these illegitimate prescriptions were then knowingly filled by licensed pharmacist Raphael Ogunsusi through his pharmacies, Evansmill Pharmacy and Retox Pharmacy located in Stonecrest and Conyers. Ogunsusi allegedly accepted large cash payments, sometimes as much as $900, for each individual prescription, then falsified pricing information on his pharmacy’s computers. He was accused of having asked his employees, including another pharmacist, to do the same.

It was also alleged that several “pill sponsors” who obtained prescriptions from Mills or Ogunsusi then sold them to drug addicts.

“These individuals showed no regard for the safety and well-being of our community by illegally distributing prescription drugs,” said United States Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.

The following persons were listed as accused in this case and were charged as mentioned:

• Anthony Mills, MD, 57, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to 11 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Raphael Ogunsusi, RPh, 71, of Conyers, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and money laundering and was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison and one year of supervised release.
• Moses Kirigwi, RPh, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to using a telephone in the unlawful distribution and distribution of prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and to one year of supervised release, the first three months being served. under home detention.
• Thomika Riley, 50, of McDonough, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Brittany Tinker, 30, of Stonecrest, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Natalie Jackson, 40, of East Point, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and two years of supervised release .
• Rogerick Smith, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Keandre Bates, 31, of Decatur, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Jeana Alston, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to three years and one month in prison and two years of supervised release.
• Chafulumisa Lisbon, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Javon Hamilton, 34, of Bluffton, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison and three years of supervised release .
• Marcena Jordan, 30, of Albany, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
• Travious Polain, 33, of Decatur, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

The most recent conviction dates back to Wednesday May 22, 2024.