Indian doctor arrested in Georgia

A Georgia psychiatrist has been arrested after 36 of his patients died, a dozen of whom died of prescription drug overdoses. 

Dr. Narendra Nagareddy was taken into custody after DEA agents raided his Jonesboro office on Thursday. Jonesboro is located in Clayton County, about 20 miles south of Atlanta.

WSB-TV Channel 2 reports that Nagareddy is accused of running a pill mill, including prescribing pain medications that are beyond his purview as a psychiatrist. Clayton County jail records show he is charged with unlawful prescribing of narcotics. 

"He is a psychiatrist in Jonesboro who has been overprescribing opiates and benzodiazepine and the last several years has had a multitude of overdoses and overdose deaths," Clayton County Police Chief Mike Register told the news station. 

Former and current patients of Nagareddy have admitted to investigators getting pain medications for which they had no medical need. Court documents show that 36 of his patients have died while being prescribed narcotics, and autopsies confirmed at least 12 of them died of overdoses.

Aside from the criminal charges, the Clayton County District Attorney's Office has also filed a RICO civil action to seize Nagareddy's assets. Investigators searched his home after they were done with his office. 

Longtime patients of Nagareddy's expressed disbelief on social media, some showing concern over having to find a new doctor. Others offered prayers for those affected by the deaths in the case.