Gynecologist, Pill Mill Kingpin, Sentenced to 240 Years

ATLANTA – In a devastating blow to the opioid epidemic, a gynecologist and two pharmacists have been sentenced for their roles in operating a massive Atlanta-area ‘pill mill’ network that supplied addicts and drug dealers with large amounts of dangerous prescription drugs.

Thirteen individuals, including Dr. Anthony Mills, 65, of Atlanta, Georgia, and licensed pharmacists Raphael Ogunsusi, 56, of Stonecrest, Georgia, and his accomplice, a second licensed pharmacist, have now been sentenced for their roles in the scheme.

Dr. Mills, a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in the State of Georgia since 1997, operated a pill mill out of his personal home where he issued hundreds of prescriptions for controlled substances, including large quantities of oxycodone, to addicts and drug dealing sponsors in exchange for cash.

Dr. Mills did not obtain prior medical records of his patients, conduct physical exams, or do anything to establish a valid patient-physician relationship. Instead, he often issued prescriptions in the names of individuals he never met or evaluated. Some of the prescriptions that Dr. Mills issued were in the names of individuals whose identities had been stolen or who were incarcerated or deceased at the time Dr. Mills wrote the prescriptions.

Raphael Ogunsusi, the owner of Evansmill Pharmacy and Retox Pharmacy, accepted large cash payments in exchange for filling the illegal prescriptions, including as much as $900 to fill just one prescription for oxycodone and $500 to fill one prescription for Percocet. Ogunsusi knew these prices were well over the market value for legitimate controlled substance prescriptions.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said, “These individuals showed no regard for the safety and well-being of our community when illegally distributing prescription drugs. We are resolute in our efforts to fight the opioid epidemic on all fronts, and licensed professionals who exploit and endanger the public with illicit drug operations for personal greed are no exception and will be held accountable.”

Dr. Mills was sentenced to 240 years in prison, while Ogunsusi was sentenced to 120 years. The sentences bring an end to an Atlanta-area criminal operation that supplied hundreds of addicts and drug dealers with large amounts of dangerous prescription drugs.

The charges and other information presented in court show that Dr. Mills operated a pill mill out of his personal home, issuing hundreds of prescriptions for controlled substances to addicts and drug dealing sponsors in exchange for cash. Dr. Mills did not obtain prior medical records of his patients, conduct physical exams, or do anything to establish a valid patient-physician relationship.

The investigation was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the DEA Atlanta Division. U.S. Attorney Buchanan praised the law enforcement agencies for their tireless efforts in combating the opioid epidemic.