MURPHY, N.C. -- Authorities in North Carolina have charged two North Georgia doctors with trafficking heroin or opium.
Cherokee County (N.C.) Sheriff's officials said that 59-year-old James Lanier Heaton and 58-year-old John Michael Gowder, both of Blairsville, Ga., were arrested on Wednesday. They're charged with five counts of trafficking in opium or heroin and found counts of obtaining a controlled substance.
The two were among six people accused of running a pill mill in Union County, Ga. last month. In that case, John Michael Gowder, who is the CEO of Union General Hospital, is facing two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Heaton, who is a board member of the hospital, faces 41 counts of unauthorized distribution of dispensation of a controlled substance. Several other family members of the Gowder family are also charged.
During the joint investigation in north Georgia, sheriff's officials said that Heaton and Gowder were operating their drug activities in North Carolina. A bond of $500,000 has been set against each. They face an April 4 court date. As of Wednesday, Gowder had posted bond, while Heaton remained in custody.
Prior to the charges filed in Union County, Gowder and Heaton had no arrest record and no disciplinary actions filed against them.
