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Ariz. A.G. Mayes Announces 42 Indictments as Part of National Healthcare Fraud Takedown Week
PHOENIX, Arizona, June 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on June 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Announces 42 Indictments as Part of National Healthcare Fraud Takedown Week
Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced that the Arizona Attorney General's Office has filed charges against 42 defendants across ten cases as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges were filed in five Arizona counties and represent one of the most significant coordinated health care enforcement actions in the state's history. They span a range
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PHOENIX, Arizona, June 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on June 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Announces 42 Indictments as Part of National Healthcare Fraud Takedown Week
Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced that the Arizona Attorney General's Office has filed charges against 42 defendants across ten cases as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges were filed in five Arizona counties and represent one of the most significant coordinated health care enforcement actions in the state's history. They span a rangeof alleged criminal conduct including fraudulent Medicaid billing, unlicensed medical practice, drug diversion, exploitation of vulnerable adults, and manslaughter.
"These 42 indictments -- spanning fraudulent billing, drug diversion, unlicensed medical practice, and the abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults -- show how tirelessly my office works to hold bad actors accountable," said Attorney General Mayes. "We will not stop until those who exploit our health care system are brought to justice."
State of Arizona vs. Carrington, et al. (Meadows Catalina)
Employees at Meadows Catalina, a care home, are accused of failing to provide a vulnerable adult the necessary care required. The indictment alleges that lack of care and repeated falls resulted in the patient's death. Seven defendants have been charged with multiple felonies including one individual who is facing manslaughter charges and the others are facing vulnerable adult abuse charges. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Brett Harmes, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Brandie Lee Dees
Brandi Lee Dees, 30, of Phoenix, was charged with Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (Class 2 Felony), Medical Practice Without a License (Class 5 Felony), and Possession of Prescription Only Drugs (Class 1 Misdemeanor). Dees, an unlicensed individual, allegedly performed lip filler, Botox, and other dermal injectable procedures at her business -- services requiring medical licensure -- using fillers that may not have been FDA-approved. This case is being prosecuted by AAG F. Sterling Struckmeyer, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Irfan Fazil and Bio Family Clinic
Irfan Fazil, 54, of Yuma, and his business Bio Family Clinic were charged with Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, Illegal Control of an Enterprise, Theft, Conspiracy, and drug-related felonies. Fazil allegedly operated a racketeering enterprise to defraud AHCCCS out of millions of dollars between July 2025 and May 2026, conspiring to commit money laundering and theft while also unlawfully possessing and administering dangerous drugs. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Ryan Dill, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Edgar Z. Torres
Edgar Torres, 38, of Nogales, was charged with Endangerment, Criminal Impersonation, Possession of Prescription Drugs for Sale, and Unauthorized Practice of a Health Profession. Torres is accused of performing medical procedures without a license, assuming another person's identity to conduct his operations, and unlawfully possessing prescription medications for sale. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Ryan Dill, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Michael Maurice Jadda
Michael Jadda, 34, of Peoria, was charged with Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Forgery, and four counts of Sale or Transportation of Narcotic Drugs. Jadda, a licensed pharmacist, allegedly abused his position to generate fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycodone, diverting the controlled substances for personal use and sale. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Bob Tokar, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Newstart Integrated Clinic, et al.
Newstart Integrated Clinic and 18 individuals were charged with multiple felonies in connection with a scheme to defraud AHCCCS and exploit its members. Defendants allegedly paid individuals to refer AHCCCS beneficiaries to Newstart, defrauding the program of more than $1,000,000 between January and October 2023. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Ryan Dill, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Slimming Grace, et al.
Seven individuals and Slimming Grace LLC, of Kingman, were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Fraudulent Schemes, Aggravated Identity Theft, Sale of Misbranded Drugs, and Forgery. The owner, a nurse practitioner, and co-defendants allegedly placed prescriptions under patients' names without consent, administered prescription medications without valid consultations, and fraudulently held themselves out as licensed medical professionals. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Bob Tokar, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Lorraine P. Ferrante and Conscious Choice Birth Center
Lorraine Ferrante, 73, of Snowflake, and her business Conscious Choices Birth Center were charged with Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, Identity Theft, Negligent Homicide, and three counts of Performing Midwifery Without a License. Ferrante allegedly practiced as an unlicensed midwife from 2020 through 2025. An unborn child died in-utero on February 5, 2025, allegedly as a result of her negligence. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Ryan Dill, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
State of Arizona vs. Michelle Renee Alderman
Michelle Alderman, 48, of Kingman, was charged with three counts of Unauthorized Practice of a Health Profession. Alderman, unlicensed and owner of The Pout Company, allegedly provided lip filler services requiring medical licensure and professional oversight. This case is being prosecuted by AAG Ryan Dill, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The charges described above are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Copies of case filings (https://us.list-manage.com/Naq_jqqcsm4?e=9153ff6c96&c2id=9a759fc70c6d734a91a2647ef652fab2) are available.
A copy of the presentation is available below.
Attachments (https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/6-24-26%20Health%20Care%20Fraud%20Takedown%20Presentation.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-announces-42-indictments-part-national-healthcare-fraud
Md. A.G. Brown Joins Brief Opposing Increased Oil and Gas Development of Alaska's Coastal Plain
BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 24 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on June 23, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins Brief Opposing Increased Oil and Gas Development of Alaska's Coastal Plain
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition with 13 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting three lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's decision to authorize an oil and gas leasing program that would maximize development of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
The states have filed the amicus
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 24 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on June 23, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins Brief Opposing Increased Oil and Gas Development of Alaska's Coastal Plain
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition with 13 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting three lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's decision to authorize an oil and gas leasing program that would maximize development of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
The states have filed the amicusbrief in three separate lawsuits filed by Alaska Native villages, communities, and environmental non-profit organizations.
In the brief, the states argue that expansive oil and gas development in an area previously untouched by industrial development will harm our states' migratory birds and increase greenhouse gas emissions that worsen the devasting impacts of climate change in our states. The coalition states argue that the Bureau of Land Management failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (Refuge Act) when it conducted a rushed and incomplete environmental review that ignored more environmentally protective alternatives and disregarded legally required standards for public participation and transparency.
"Marylanders are already experiencing persistent droughts, intense storms, and extreme temperatures, consequences of climate change that will only be made worse by oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," said Attorney General Brown. "Our Office is joining this brief because our residents and our wildlife deserve protection from unlawful drilling programs that threaten to make our climate more unstable."
The Coastal Plain is a 1.6-million-acre national treasure at the heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that provides habitat to hundreds of species, including threatened polar bears and caribou. Millions of migratory birds spend the summer on the Coastal Plain breeding and feeding before migrating southward across North America, traveling upwards of 3,000 miles. Populations of tundra swans, black-bellied plovers, and lesser scaup that winter in the Chesapeake Bay rely on these important areas for summer breeding habitat.
These birds are an integral part of the coalition states' ecosystems. In many cases they are protected as species of concern under state law. They also provide a significant economic benefit from birdwatching and hunting that occur in the coalition states.
The coalition states have a history of fighting to protect the Coastal Plain and prevent damage to these irreplaceable public lands and wildlife. In 2020, a multistate coalition led by Washington and Massachusetts, alongside Alaska Native villages, communities, and environmental non-profits challenged the Trump administration's 2020 Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program and underlying environmental review. In June 2021, the Secretary of Interior halted all development under the program, identifying multiple "legal deficiencies" and ordered a new environmental review. In 2025, following congressional action, the Trump administration authorized a nearly identical 2025 Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
In filing the brief, Attorney General Brown is joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Joins-Brief-Opposing-Increased-Oil-and-Gas-Development-of-Alaska%e2%80%99s-Coastal-Plain-.aspx
Ga. A.G. Carr Challenges California's Plastics Acts Over State Sovereignty and Economic Impacts
ATLANTA, Georgia, June 24 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on June 22, 2026:
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Carr Challenges California's Plastics Acts Over State Sovereignty and Economic Impacts
Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a 17-state coalition and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) in challenging California's Plastics Act to defend the interests of producers and consumers nationwide.
California's law, formally known as the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act ("the Plastics Act"), seeks to impose extensive requirements
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ATLANTA, Georgia, June 24 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on June 22, 2026:
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Carr Challenges California's Plastics Acts Over State Sovereignty and Economic Impacts
Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a 17-state coalition and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) in challenging California's Plastics Act to defend the interests of producers and consumers nationwide.
California's law, formally known as the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act ("the Plastics Act"), seeks to impose extensive requirementson manufacturers, distributors, and companies that package or ship products in plastic containers or use other types of packaging materials that merely incorporate plastics, including aluminum, cardboard, paper, glass and even wood. The law will lead to increased costs that are passed on to consumers - making basic necessities more expensive for everyone. For this reason, the attorneys general and the NAW have filed suit to stop the enforcement of the Plastics Act - alleging violations of both the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution.
"California has no right to tell us how to manage our businesses here in Georgia, and yet that's exactly what the Plastics Act attempts to do," said Attorney General Chris Carr. "This is an unconstitutional mandate from West Coast elites, who are fine with asking everyday Americans to pay more just so they can advance an activist agenda. It's regulatory overreach, and we're fighting back to protect Georgia producers and consumers."
The Plastics Act conditions access to California's markets on radical changes to packaging design, production, and waste disposal - forcing businesses across the country to comply with California's contrived environmental preferences. The law reaches far beyond California, impacting virtually every business that uses plastic packaging, regardless of their home state. The economic ramifications are significant. The Plastics Act's onerous requirements are expected to drive up prices on everyday goods, disproportionately affecting low-income and vulnerable populations.
"California is not entitled to pronounce nationwide policies," said Eric Hoplin, President and CEO of NAW. "Because the Act extends California's regulatory reach far beyond its borders and brings within its sweep conduct wholly unconnected to California, the Act violates principles of federalism, the horizontal separation of powers, and due process."
Concerned States also highlight the Act's delegation of regulatory and enforcement powers to the unelected Action Alliance, an unaccountable private organization. With minimal oversight from California, the Alliance is empowered to collect up to $500 million annually from businesses seeking access to California's market, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Joining Carr in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
Read a copy of the complaint (https://law.georgia.gov/document/document/062226-court-filing-ca-plastics-actpdf/download) .
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Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-06-22/carr-challenges-californias-plastics-acts-over-state-sovereignty-and
Del. DOJ Indicts Suspected Wilmington Hospital Shooter on Multiple Felony Charges
DOVER, Delaware, June 24 -- The Delaware Department of Justice issued the following news release on June 22, 2026:
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DOJ indicts suspected Wilmington Hospital shooter on multiple felony charges
Prosecutors have secured multiple felony charges, including First Degree Murder, against John Wallace-Bey for a shooting that killed one victim and critically wounded another, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday.
Wallace-Bey, 23, was indicted Monday for seven felony charges: Murder First Degree, Attempted Murder First Degree, Reckless Endangering First Degree, Carrying a Concealed Deadly
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DOVER, Delaware, June 24 -- The Delaware Department of Justice issued the following news release on June 22, 2026:
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DOJ indicts suspected Wilmington Hospital shooter on multiple felony charges
Prosecutors have secured multiple felony charges, including First Degree Murder, against John Wallace-Bey for a shooting that killed one victim and critically wounded another, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday.
Wallace-Bey, 23, was indicted Monday for seven felony charges: Murder First Degree, Attempted Murder First Degree, Reckless Endangering First Degree, Carrying a Concealed DeadlyWeapon, and three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. On the evening of June 16, Bey was arrested in Pennsylvania, where he remains in custody pending extradition.
"This was a shocking and traumatizing act of violence in one of our community's most sensitive places," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "All of us are sick for the victims, for the Christiana Care family, and for Wilmington Hospital's neighbors who were shaken by this senseless gun violence. Prosecutors and law enforcement worked relentlessly to identify, detain, and charge the defendant and to interview witnesses. Prosecutors will move to extradite the defendant in the coming days so that he can face justice. Victim support teams in Wilmington PD and the DOJ, along with the DOJ's Victim's Compensation Assistance Program, have been working to assist the victims of this crime and will continue to do so throughout this process.
My thanks go out to the officers and command of Wilmington Police Department, and our law enforcement partners, who secured Wilmington Hospital and worked around the clock to locate and detain the suspect. I want to thank, as well, the medical staff who acted heroically, under unthinkable stress, to aid both victims--one of whom tragically succumbed to their injury and the other of whom is alive today because of his colleagues' quick thinking."
"Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims of this senseless act of violence, as well as their families and every member of the ChristianaCare family who has been impacted," said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. "I applaud the rapid response of our Wilmington Police officers and appreciate the support of so many of our law enforcement and public safety partners, whose support helped us to quickly take this suspect into custody. We also appreciate the efforts of the Delaware Department of Justice to ensure that the defendant in prosecuted to the fullest extent possible."
"Our hearts remain with the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time," said ChristianaCare incoming President and CEO Jennifer Schwartz. "This tragedy has deeply impacted our health care community, and we know many are still early in the grieving process. Our leadership team and I are committed to making sure our caregivers feel heard and know their questions and concerns matter, and we're taking steps to further enhance their safety. We are deeply grateful for the compassion and care so many have shown us. It's a powerful reminder of what makes Wilmington and the entire state of Delaware so special."
On June 16, 2026, Wallace-Bey, an IT intern with Wilmington Hospital, is alleged to have entered Wilmington Hospital with a firearm and shot two hospital employees, killing one and critically injuring another, before fleeing. As of today, the surviving victim is in stable condition.
Law enforcement tracked and apprehended Wallace-Bey hours later in Philadelphia. Investigators believe that the shooting was targeted and have not identified any prior criminal record. With the indictment secured, prosecutors will move in the coming day to extradite Wallace-Bey to Delaware.
The DOJ reminds the public that charges are allegations and that all defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence until they have been proven guilty.
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Original text here: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/06/22/doj-indicts-suspected-wilmington-hospital-shooter-on-multiple-felony-charges/
Attorney General Rayfield Condemns Unprecedented Misuse of Legal System for Trump's "Anti-Weaponization" Fund
SALEM, Oregon, June 24 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Rayfield Condemns Unprecedented Misuse of Legal System for Trump's "Anti-Weaponization" Fund
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Litigation and manufactured "settlement" agreement designed to create a taxpayer-funded windfall for President Trump and his family
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a multistate coalition condemned the purported "settlement" agreement in Trump v. IRS, which granted President Trump and his family immunity from investigations and prosecutions related to past conduct and
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SALEM, Oregon, June 24 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Rayfield Condemns Unprecedented Misuse of Legal System for Trump's "Anti-Weaponization" Fund
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Litigation and manufactured "settlement" agreement designed to create a taxpayer-funded windfall for President Trump and his family
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a multistate coalition condemned the purported "settlement" agreement in Trump v. IRS, which granted President Trump and his family immunity from investigations and prosecutions related to past conduct andrequired the Department of Justice to establish a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization" fund.
AG Rayfield and the multistate coalition filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to carefully scrutinize the parties' conduct and agreement. The coalition argues that the lawsuit and subsequent settlement are nothing more than a collusive fraud engineered to violate the constitutional limits on presidential authority, all at the expense of American taxpayers.
"This so-called 'settlement' is not just self-serving, it's corrupt," said Attorney General Rayfield. "President Trump wants to enrich his political allies and protect his family from being held accountable for their unlawful actions. We will not let that stand. Every American must follow the law - and that includes the President."
Background
In January 2026, President Trump, his family, and his business organization filed suit against the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the disclosure of President Trump's tax return information by a government contractor. The District Court expressed skepticism about the lawsuit, but President Trump quickly, voluntarily dismissed his claims and entered into a "settlement" agreement with the Department of Justice instead. The "settlement" granted President Trump and his family immunity from all investigations and prosecutions related to past conduct, and also required the U.S. Department of Justice to establish a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization" fund.
The District Court is now considering reopening Trump v. IRS under a rule that allows a court to set aside a judgment and reopen a case on the basis that there was fraud or deception perpetrated by parties upon the court. In the amicus brief, Attorney General Rayfield and the coalition offer their perspective as the chief law officers of their states, highlighting that the self-dealing and corrupt nature of this settlement agreement goes against the responsibilities of attorneys general and the rule of law.
The coalition emphasizes that this kind of collusion between a President and a Department he oversees undermines the separation of powers, public confidence in the court system, the powers exercised by state attorneys general, and the rule of law.
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Original text here: https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/ag-rayfield-condemns-unprecedented-misuse-of-legal-system-for-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund/
Attorney General Clark Secures Major Victory, Court Strikes Down Trump's March 2025 Elections Executive Order
MONTPELIER, Vermont, June 24 -- Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark posted the following news release:
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Attorney General Clark Secures Major Victory, Court Strikes Down Trump's March 2025 Elections Executive Order
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Attorney General Charity Clark and a coalition of 18 other attorneys general today announced a victory after the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the coalition's motion for a permanent injunction and blocked key provisions of Executive Order No. 14248 from taking effect. Issued by President Trump on March 25, 2025, the Executive Order attempted
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MONTPELIER, Vermont, June 24 -- Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark posted the following news release:
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Attorney General Clark Secures Major Victory, Court Strikes Down Trump's March 2025 Elections Executive Order
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Attorney General Charity Clark and a coalition of 18 other attorneys general today announced a victory after the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the coalition's motion for a permanent injunction and blocked key provisions of Executive Order No. 14248 from taking effect. Issued by President Trump on March 25, 2025, the Executive Order attemptedto conscript state election officials in the President's campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration, force States to ignore mail ballots that are cast by Election Day but received by election officials just days afterward, and withhold various streams of federal funding from the States if they fail to comply. The coalition filed a lawsuit challenging the Executive Order in April 2025, secured a preliminary injunction blocking unlawful provisions of the Executive Order in June 2025, and successfully defeated the Trump Administration's motion to dismiss in September 2025. The coalition filed a motion for a permanent injunction in December 2025, and the court heard oral argument in February 2026.
Joining Attorney General Clark in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
In April 2026, Attorney General Clark also joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in challenging Executive Order No. 14399, the second elections-related Executive Order issued by President Trump. Executive Order No. 14399 attempts to interfere with States' constitutional authority to administer elections by restricting voter eligibility and mail voting to lists of voters pre-authorized by the federal government. The coalition filed a motion for summary judgment later in April 2026 in order to permanently block those changes, which the court has yet to rule on.
CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Senior Advisor to the Attorney General, 802-828-3171
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Original text here: https://ago.vermont.gov/blog/2026/06/24/attorney-general-clark-secures-major-victory-court-strikes-down-trumps-march-2025-elections
A.G. Brown: Three Charged Under Utah False Claims Act in $951,000 Medicaid Fraud Scheme
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 24 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown issued the following news on June 23, 2026:
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Three charged under Utah False Claims Act in $951,000 Medicaid fraud scheme
Three individuals are facing felony charges after allegedly recruiting parolees and unhoused Utahns with promises of free housing, then billing the state nearly $1 million for drug treatment sessions that never took place.
The Defendants, Johnny Antanio Hankston and Jalon Hankston, face one count each under the Utah False Claims Act for submitting more than $951,000 in false claims to Utah Medicaid
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 24 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown issued the following news on June 23, 2026:
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Three charged under Utah False Claims Act in $951,000 Medicaid fraud scheme
Three individuals are facing felony charges after allegedly recruiting parolees and unhoused Utahns with promises of free housing, then billing the state nearly $1 million for drug treatment sessions that never took place.
The Defendants, Johnny Antanio Hankston and Jalon Hankston, face one count each under the Utah False Claims Act for submitting more than $951,000 in false claims to Utah Medicaidbetween December 2023 and March 2025. Johnny Leonel Tellez also faces one count under the Utah False Claims Act, a second-degree felony, for aiding and abetting the scheme. The charges stem from operations at Second Chance Family Services, a Salt Lake County substance use disorder provider.
"Defrauding Medicaid isn't a paperwork problem - it's theft from every Utahn who pays into this system and plays by the rules. These defendants treated a program meant to help vulnerable people as their own personal ATM. That ends now. We will claw back every dollar we can, and we will prosecute the people who took it," said Attorney General Derek Brown.
Second Chance allegedly recruited parolees, unhoused individuals, and individuals with substance use disorders by offering rent-free housing in exchange for their Medicaid information, then billed the state for therapy sessions that witnesses and former employees say never happened. No patient records were ever produced to show otherwise.
"When we subpoenaed records, they couldn't produce a single document showing a therapy session had ever taken place. They billed nearly a million dollars and had nothing to show for it. Through collaborative efforts with our office and the FBI, we have built a solid case to prove it, " said Lane Olson, Acting Chief Investigator of the MFCU Division in the AG's Criminal Department.
This case was investigated by MFCU and the FBI using a multi-disciplinary team of special agents, auditors, attorneys, and paralegals. Throughout the investigation, MFCU also collaborated closely with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and the Utah Medicaid program. These partnerships are vital for not only investigating and prosecuting cases of fraud, but also for identifying ways to strengthen policies and prevent future fraudulent behaviors. Kaye Lynn Wootton, MFCU Director, stated that, "substance use disorder provider fraud prevents Medicaid beneficiaries from getting the care they so desperately need and wastes valuable resources intended to reduce societal harms including addiction, homelessness and crime."
"As stewards of taxpayer funds, we take our responsibility to protect public resources seriously," said Julie Ewing, State Medicaid Director. "Every dollar stolen through Medicaid fraud is a dollar taken away from vulnerable Utahns who need life-sustaining services. We are grateful for our strong partnership with the Attorney General's Office MFCU and federal law enforcement to hold these bad actors accountable and ensure our Medicaid program remains strong, transparent, and secure."
The Utah Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, a Division of the Office of the Utah Attorney General receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $3,984,304 for federal fiscal year 2026. The State of Utah funds the remaining 25 percent.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Original text here: https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/utah-medicaid-fraud-scheme-951000/
