CEO of Union General Hospital and five more arrested on prescription drug charges

Mike Gowder, CEO of Union General Hospital Inc., was publicly arrested at his office and ushered out the front doors of the hospital in handcuffs on Thursday, Feb. 4.
Gowder’s arrest comes after a nine-month investigation conducted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, looking into illegal prescription drug practices, according to the sheriff’s office.
The ongoing investigation has been in conjunction with several other agencies from the federal, state and local levels: the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the DEA Digital Forensics Lab, the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency, and the Cherokee County NC Sheriff’s Office.
Also arrested in connection with the investigation were: Dr. James L. Heaton of Blairsville Family Practice; Gail Gowder, Mike’s wife; David Gowder, Mike’s brother; Virginia Lou Harkins, sister to Mike and David; and Jamie Harkins, daughter of Lou Harkins, also niece to Mike and David Gowder.
A Channel 2 News crew out of Atlanta was in town to capture the arrests of Mike Gowder and Dr. Heaton.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office served a total of six felony arrest warrants, as well as two search warrants – one at Union General Hospital and the other at Dr. Heaton’s office – in order to obtain both physical and digital files and patient records to further the ongoing investigation.
All six individuals arrested have been booked into the Union County Jail on the following charges, according to the sheriff’s office:
John Michael Gowder, three counts fraudulently obtaining controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance.
James Lanier Heaton, 41 counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substance.
Gail Gowder, two counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance.
George David Gowder, six counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substance, 37 counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance.
Virginia Lou Harkins, two counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance.
Jaime Lee Harkins, two counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance.
David Gowder was arrested twice last year on charges of prescription fraud, first in Blue Ridge, then in Union County.
Lewis Kelley, who retired last year as Chief Operating Officer of Chatuge Regional Hospital in Hiawassee, has been appointed interim CEO of Union General Hospital by the Union General Inc. Board of Directors.
In an emergency called meeting following Mike Gowder’s arrest on Feb. 4, the board decided to place Gowder on paid administrative leave, “pending the results of an internal review and investigation, including the review and consideration of the law enforcement activities,” said Jim Williams, vice-chairman of the board of Union General Inc., in the statement.
Check back at www.nganews.com for details as they become available, and read our Feb. 10 edition of the North Georgia News for more in-depth reporting.


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	CEO of Union General Hospital and five more arrested on prescription drug charges Mike Gowder, CEO of Union General Hospital Inc., was publicly arrested at his office and ushered out the front doors of the hospital in handcuffs on Thursday, Feb. 4. Gowder’s arrest comes after a nine-month investigation conducted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, looking into illegal prescription drug practices, according to the sheriff’s office. The ongoing investigation has been in conjunction with several other agencies from the federal, state and local levels: the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the DEA Digital Forensics Lab, the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency, and the Cherokee County NC Sheriff’s Office. Also arrested in connection with the investigation were: Dr. James L. Heaton of Blairsville Family Practice; Gail Gowder, Mike’s wife; David Gowder, Mike’s brother; Virginia Lou Harkins, sister to Mike and David; and Jamie Harkins, daughter of Lou Harkins, also niece to Mike and David Gowder. A Channel 2 News crew out of Atlanta was in town to capture the arrests of Mike Gowder and Dr. Heaton. The Union County Sheriff’s Office served a total of six felony arrest warrants, as well as two search warrants – one at Union General Hospital and the other at Dr. Heaton’s office – in order to obtain both physical and digital files and patient records to further the ongoing investigation. All six individuals arrested have been booked into the Union County Jail on the following charges, according to the sheriff’s office: John Michael Gowder, three counts fraudulently obtaining controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance. James Lanier Heaton, 41 counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substance. Gail Gowder, two counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance. George David Gowder, six counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substance, 37 counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance. Virginia Lou Harkins, two counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance. Jaime Lee Harkins, two counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance. David Gowder was arrested twice last year on charges of prescription fraud, first in Blue Ridge, then in Union County. Lewis Kelley, who retired last year as Chief Operating Officer of Chatuge Regional Hospital in Hiawassee, has been appointed interim CEO of Union General Hospital by the Union General Inc. Board of Directors. In an emergency called meeting following Mike Gowder’s arrest on Feb. 4, the board decided to place Gowder on paid administrative leave, “pending the results of an internal review and investigation, including the review and consideration of the law enforcement activities,” said Jim Williams, vice-chairman of the board of Union General Inc., in the statement. Check back at www.nganews.com for details as they become available, and read our Feb. 10 edition of the North Georgia News for more in-depth reporting.

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