A former medical examiner and forensic pathologist who has been associated with some of Georgia’s most sensational crime cases was indicted on additional felony charges accusing him of the illegal distribution of opioid painkillers, the U.S. attorney in Atlanta announced Thursday.

Dr. Joseph Burton—who was indicted on federal drug charges last fall—was charged Thursday with seven other individuals in a sweeping superseding indictment alleging a conspiracy to illegally distribute opioid painkillers. Federal prosecutors said the new indictment was part of Operation SCOPE (Strategically Combatting Opioids Through Prosecution and Enforcement). The indictments accused Burton of prescribing oxycodone outside the scope of professional service in exchange for sexual favors.

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