Gynecologist and pharmacist plead guilty to running 'pill mill' network in Atlanta

Former gynecologist Anthony Mills and licensed pharmacist Raphael Ogunsusi pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing and dispensing large amounts of addictive pain medication to drug dealers and addicts in the Atlanta area, the DOJ announced on Tuesday.

According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, Mills has been a licensed medical doctor in Georgia since 1997. He was accused of running a "pill mill" out of his residence since at least October 2018.

In exchange for cash, the 56-year-old gynecologist illegally prescribed large quantities of controlled substances to drug addicts and dealers, also referred to as "sponsors." Mills wrote the prescriptions without evaluating his "patients" or obtaining prior medical records. Prosecutors noted that some names on the prescriptions included those whose identities had been stolen or those who were deceased.

The illegal prescriptions were often filled at two pharmacies owned by Raphael Ogunsusi, who was aware that Mills was overprescribing addictive medications. The pharmacist knew Mills did not have legitimate medical purposes for prescribing the medications but continued to fill the prescriptions regardless.

Ogunsusi accepted cash payments in exchange for filling illegal prescriptions. Prosecutors stated that the pharmacist charged $900 to fill a prescription of oxycodone and $500 to fill a prescription of Percocet.

Ogunsusi attempted to conceal the illegal activity and inflated prices by falsifying market pricing information on his pharmacy computers. He also directed other licensed pharmacists working at his facilities to falsify records.

For every illegal purchase, Ogunsusi maximized profits by requiring the customers to buy additional non-controlled substances, which he called the "Shebang."

"Mills and Ogunsusi are now admitted drug dealers who violated the public's trust by engaging in black-market sales of staggering amounts of dangerous opioid pills," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "With opioid overdoses continuing to rise in Georgia, our office will continue to devote resources to prosecuting licensed professionals who fuel rather than help to stem the opioid epidemic."

In addition to drug dealing charges, Ogunsusi also pleaded guilty to money laundering after he was caught purchasing a plane with proceeds from illegally dispensing controlled substances.

Moses Kirigwi, a pharmacist who worked at one of Ogunsusi's stores, and sponsors Brittany Tinker and Keandre Bates pleaded guilty to conspiring with Mills and Ogunsusi.

The DEA and the IRS are currently investigating the case. Additional criminal charges are pending against eight defendants.

"The dispensing of addictive prescription pain medication under the guise of a doctor's care isn't about the good of the community or an individual's specific health needs – it's about greed," stated Robert J. Murphy, the special agent in charge of the DEA's Atlanta Field Division. "Individuals like these defendants who operated a 'pill mill' are nothing more than drug dealers who are licensed to wear white coats and carry stethoscopes. They will now face the consequences for their criminal actions."