George Mack Bird, III, a Georgia gynecologist, had a 176-count indictment returned against him by a federal grand jury in Savannah for allegedly running a pill mill and money laundering.

Federal agents seized $1 million in cash from Bird at the time of his arrest and have since frozen an additional $3.9 million held in various bank and investment accounts.

Bird, who operated a medical practice in Dodge County and a diet clinic in Laurens County, is currently being held in state custody and is facing life in prison. According to the indictment, Bird instructed his employees to use pre-signed prescription forms to distribute various controlled substances and highly addictive opioids. Allegedly, he rarely saw or examined his patients and directed his employees to use pre-printed medical notes. This gave the impression that patients had been thoroughly examined.

The system Bird had in place generated $4.5 million. The indictment also alleges that Bird and others conspired to illegally launder the proceeds by using them to pay for the operating costs of Bird’s clinics.

The government is seeking the forfeiture of Bird’s home, offices, investment properties and a money judgment of at least $4.5 million.

The DEA and Oconee Drug Task Force are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia Green Rhodes and Theodore S. Hertzberg are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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