CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A now-disgraced medical provider in Chillicothe will learn this week whether he will ever regain his medical license.
The State Medical Board of Ohio is set to meet on September 11 to discuss the future of Rufus Lowman Jr., a suspended physician assistant from Chillicothe.
The Guardian has conducted an in-depth investigation into the alleged sordid activities of Lowman.
Physician Assistant Rufus Frank Lowman Jr. has been at the center of a firestorm of controversy. This controversy began when The Guardian discovered that the State Medical Board of Ohio had suspended the license of Lowman, owner of Rose Medical Clinic located at 14 Health Drive, on allegations of operating an illegal pill mill.
According to records obtained by The Guardian, Lowman, whose physician assistant license was issued on January 12, 2012, had his license summarily suspended by the state medical board on May 8, 2024. The suspension followed allegations that between September 2022 and March 14, 2024, he unlawfully prescribed Schedule II controlled substances to 11 patients without the required supervision or approval, violating state regulations designed to prevent prescription abuse.
Schedule II drugs, classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration, are substances with a high potential for abuse and severe dependence, making their prescription subject to stringent regulations. Authorities further allege that Lowman ran what they term an “illegal pill mill,” a facility dispensing narcotics inappropriately or for non-medical purposes.
In their suspension order, the board stated, “Lowman violated section 4730.25B2 of the ORC and 4730.25B3, and we have further determined that your continued practice presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.” Rufus Lowman is not a doctor but is allowed to operate within certain parameters and restrictions.
Allegations of Unethical Practices
Lowman also offers a variety of services, including addiction services, which, combined with the alleged distribution of Schedule II controlled substances, raises questions about possible unethical behavior. One family alleged on The Guardian’s social media account that Lowman and Rose Medical Clinic prescribed Xanax to their son, who was in active recovery at the time. Xanax, also known as Alprazolam, is a prescription medication used primarily to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. The family claims that their son died shortly after visiting the clinic.
A former employee of the practice also contacted The Guardian to share their personal experience. The former employee provided a list of allegations against the clinic, stating, “They have committed acts such as insurance fraud, HIPAA violations, unsafe work environment, etc.” The former employee claimed knowledge of an office manager allegedly using Lowman’s tablet to send in prescriptions that only he was authorized to submit.
Financial Troubles
In addition to the criminal allegations against Lowman, The Guardian has investigated the financial aspects of the medical practice and its parent company, RTTS Services Corporation, which is owned by Lowman.
In 2022, Besse Medical, a division of AmerisourceBergen and part of the Cencora brand, initiated a lawsuit against Lowman and RTTS Services Corporation for an unpaid debt of $26,252.79. The lawsuit arose from a 2021 agreement in which Lowman and RTTS Services Corporation were to be invoiced for their purchases, including Vivitrol, a medication used to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders. According to court documents, Lowman defaulted on this payment agreement, leading to a default judgment issued on July 11, 2023, against RTTS Services Corporation and Rose Medical Clinic. To recover the amount owed, Besse Medical filed for garnishments against Rose Medical Clinic in April 2024.
Further complicating matters, Rose Medical Clinic has been hit with tax liens from the state of Ohio amounting to $623.00.
Additionally, in 2023, a local staffing company filed a lawsuit against Lowman and RTTS Services Corporation over a payment dispute. The case involved the office manager, who has also been at the center of allegations from former employees. According to the lawsuit, the woman was hired as a temporary receptionist at Rose Medical Clinic from September to December 2022. The staffing company claimed that Lowman and RTTS Services Corporation failed to pay the agreed hourly rate for the woman’s services, resulting in an outstanding debt of $10,353.00.
These revelations add another layer to the ongoing investigation into Lowman and his business practices, painting a picture of a medical practice mired in both legal and financial troubles.
Murder-for-Hire Plot
The Guardian has obtained text messages allegedly sent by Lowman outlining a supposed plot to kill a local community advocate. The messages, sent to an anonymous individual, reveal a chilling intent. One message reads, “Why complain when all I need to do is get rid of Cheryl.” Cheryl, whose last name has been redacted for privacy, is a community organizer and recovery advocate in Ross County.
Lowman is accused of paying recovering drug addicts with prescription pills to do “dirty work” for him, including the alleged murder. He is also said to have had a voodoo doll of the target.
Child Rape Allegations
The most disturbing allegations against Rufus Lowman come from those who once considered him family. Lowman faces serious accusations of sexual abuse involving a minor. A female accuser has alleged that the abuse began when she was just 11 years old in 2008. The alleged abuse said to have occurred over several years in both Florida and Ohio, has been under investigation since 2015 by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office. Despite an audio recording purportedly containing Lowman’s confession to the sexual abuse being in possession of authorities, no charges have been filed.
During our investigation, The Guardian obtained the same audio recording allegedly containing Lowman’s confession to sexual abuse. In the recording, a man purported to be Lowman can be heard blaming the child, claiming she initiated the sexual encounters. In what appears to be a case of victim shaming, the man said, “She was sexually active at the age of 7. She was jumping people’s bones back before she was bleeding.”
The audio recording details the encounters between Lowman and the child in disturbing detail. The man purported to be Lowman can be heard saying, “The thing is, for the longest time it was just innocent rubbing her stomach and her back and stuff like that. That’s when she started the moaning and groaning and oh my god.”
During the alleged audio confession, Lowman reportedly admitted to going into the girl’s bedroom with the intention of abusing her. He can be heard saying, “I lay down with her but – not initiate anything – not initiate anything more than loving.” He is also alleged to have admitted to paying the victim to keep quiet about the abuse.
One Family Traumatized
Recently, one of Lowman’s former stepchildren reached out to share what life was like growing up with Lowman. “I’m the oldest of four. Our brother was physically beaten by him many times. It got to the point Rufus flipped the doorknob around to prevent [our brother] from locking himself in, but there were times that Rufus would actually lock him in. He was manipulative and mentally abusive to all of us, but in ways that spanned the entire relationship without realizing it.” The former stepchild went on to say, “At various points in our lives, he’s made us want to, even some of us try to commit suicide.”
What’s Next?
Currently, Rose Medical Clinic is closed. A sign reading “Temporarily Closed” is taped to the front door. The Guardian spoke with a captain of the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, who indicated that potential criminal charges against Lowman are under consideration in their county. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has also stated that they are investigating Lowman regarding the alleged sexual abuse that occurred in their respective counties. Child rape charges in Florida carry the potential death penalty if the victim was under the age of 12 at the time of the crime.