WESTON, Fla. (WSVN) — The owner of a South Florida pill mill and seven employees have been arrested in connection to a massive pill mill operation.

Dr. Lynn Averill is one of seven owners and operators arrested following a five-year operation led by the Drug Enforcement Agency entitled Operation Pill Nation. Averill, along with her co-conspirators, have been charged with manslaughter, racketeering and other charges.

Averill had been operating Real Care Medical Group clinic at 660 North State Road 7 in Plantation. The clinic has since been shutdown.

During an earlier phase of the operation, in 2011, Averill was stripped of her doctors license. Her clinic was just one of hundreds of pill mills shut down. “During one undercover visit, an undercover agent told Dr. Averill that he had no pain, but he was sniffing eight to 10 oxycontin 30mg tablets and 10 oxycontin 80mg tablets per day,” said DEA Special Agent Kevin Stanfill.

According to officials, Averill purchased nearly 440,000 oxycontin pills through wholesalers. The national average for a doctor is 23,000. “Former Dr. Averill purchased 437,880 oxycontin pills, it’s outrageous, in a six-month period,” said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Officials also said Averill would increase patient’s oxycontin dosages every time they visited, making them addicted to the drug.

Eight people died from overdoses and officials said despite knowledge of the deaths, Averill and the owners continued to issue prescriptions. “Unfortunately, eight patients died within days after visiting with Dr. Averill and receiving multiple prescriptions from her,” said Stanfill.

Years later, DEA agents were able to connect the deaths to Averill and her staff. She was listed as working as a Laboratory and Research Director in Boca Raton. However, officials said the damage was done and her past caught up to her. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family’s,” said Bondi. “This former doctor is charged with using pain medication as a death-dealing, profit center.”

Officials are still searching for one more co-conspirator, Presmil Masson, Jr., guaranteeing him a new home. “To anyone who does this, we will find you, we will charge you, and if you are convicted, we will give you a new medical office, and that’s called Florida state prison,” said Bondi.

If you have any information on this crime, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.