Queens, NY — Authorities have charged Charles Gonder, a former director at two Queens nursing homes, with stealing more than 1,500 oxycodone pills that were meant for disposal. The Queens District Attorney’s Office uncovered this theft after an extensive investigation into Gonder’s employment at Regal Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Jackson Heights and the Sapphire Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing of Central Queens in Flushing.
Charles Gonder, 52, of Astoria, was arraigned on August 14, 2024, in Queens Criminal Court. The charges against him include criminal possession of a controlled substance, 26 counts of falsifying business records, fraud, deceit, and petit larceny. If convicted, Gonder could face up to 20 years in prison.
A Troubling History of Deception
In May 2023, Gonder applied for a management position at Regal Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. He deliberately left blank a crucial question on the application asking about previous criminal convictions. Despite his two prior convictions, including a felony in Nassau County, he was hired on May 4, 2023. As the acting director of nursing services, he oversaw the collection and disposal of unused medications, including narcotics.
Just eight days later, Regal Heights terminated Gonder’s employment. However, an audit by the New York State Department of Health on June 26, 2023, revealed the disappearance of 141 oxycodone pills. Records showed that Gonder had logged these pills for disposal on May 10, 2023, but they were never found in the designated disposal bins. Investigators later found the packaging for some of these pills in Gonder’s desk, with only one pill remaining.
Further Misconduct at a Second Facility
Undeterred, Gonder applied for another management role at the Sapphire Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing of Central Queens just days after his termination. On May 18, 2023, he again omitted his criminal history from the application. By May 22, 2023, the facility hired him as the assistant director of nursing services, and he was later promoted to director. He continued to oversee the collection, documentation, and disposal of unused prescription medications.
In March 2024, an audit at the Sapphire Center uncovered a much larger theft. A total of 1,534 oxycodone pills linked to 66 prescriptions were missing. Gonder had signed for 26 of these prescriptions, yet the pills never reached the disposal bins. This discovery led to his termination last month, followed by his arrest on August 13, 2024.
Legal Proceedings and Accountability
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, whose office spearheaded the investigation, expressed deep concern over the case. “As an official at two Queens nursing homes, this defendant was entrusted with the safety of patients under his care, including the safe disposal of narcotics. He violated that trust by stealing over 1,500 oxycodone pills. He was arrested today and will now face justice in court.”
The New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement assisted in the investigation. Assistant District Attorney Kieran Linehan, Supervisor of the Major Narcotics Unit, is prosecuting the case.
Gonder is scheduled to return to court on October 15, 2024, where he will face these serious charges. This case highlights the critical need for rigorous oversight and thorough background checks in healthcare settings, especially in positions involving controlled substances.
The charges against Charles Gonder are accusations. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.