QUEENS, NY—Charles Gonder, 52, a former director at two Queens nursing homes, was arraigned today on multiple drug and fraud charges, following accusations that he stole more than 1,500 oxycodone pills from his employers. The Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, revealed that the long-term investigation into Gonder’s activities culminated in his arrest this morning.
Gonder is charged with first and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, 26 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, and additional counts related to fraud and petit larceny. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His court return is scheduled for October 15.
The investigation highlighted that during his brief tenures at the Regal Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Jackson Heights and the Sapphire Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing of Central Queens in Flushing, Gonder was responsible for the collection and disposal of unused medications. It was during this period that significant quantities of oxycodone, slated for destruction, went missing.
Further complicating his case, Gonder failed to disclose his prior criminal convictions on job applications at both facilities. His employment at Regal Heights lasted from May 4 to May 12, 2023, during which time audits identified missing narcotics linked directly to his management. A similar pattern emerged at the Sapphire Center, where he was employed shortly afterward, resulting in his termination last month following another revealing audit in March 2024.
The case continues to develop as the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, which played a crucial role in the investigation, seeks to establish the full extent of the alleged misconduct.
