Forty-four people were arrested Thursday as part of a huge metro Atlanta opioid ring led by a nationally-known pathologist who authorities say traded prescription drugs for sex.

Dr. Joe Burton was originally charged last year. The additional charges were announced at a news conference Thursday by U.S. Attorney BJay Pak in Atlanta.

Burton once served as medical examiner for Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Clayton, Douglas, Paulding and Rockdale counties. He worked on some of the region's biggest cases conducting what he once estimated were more than 10,000 autopsies.

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Peachtree Center in downtown Atlanta is seen returning to business Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024 after a shooting on Tuesday afternoon left the suspect and three other people injured. (John Spink/AJC)

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