In a calculated scheme to dupe Arizona's healthcare system, two Las Vegas residents have been hit with a hefty indictment, federally charged with swindling over $9.4 million from a program intended to serve Native Americans. The accused, Kenneth Harrison, 44, and Courtney Haywood, 38, were slapped with 30 felony counts for allegations including conspiracy, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.
Two Indicted for $9.4 Million Fraud Against AHCCCS's Insurance Program for Native Americans @FBIPhoenix @IRS_CI https://t.co/Dr1XYlLPgM pic.twitter.com/yplejhLGzf
— US Attorney Arizona (@USAO_AZ) March 28, 2024
According to the indictment by a federal grand jury in Phoenix, the duo exploited their company, Aurtism, LLC, to bill the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for mental health services, some of which were supposedly for indigent Native Americans. However, it's claimed that Harrison and Haywood went beyond just overbilling – they allegedly billed for services to individuals they never treated, including those in residential facilities, behind bars, or even the deceased. Both made their first appearance in court earlier this month.
The extravagant splurge of misbegotten gains from AHCCCS, with Harrison dropping $2.7 million on residential real estate, a cool $763,000 on luxury vehicles, and close to a million on retail joys and jaunts. Meanwhile, Haywood funneled roughly $3.4 million of the loot into real estate, flashy cars, retail shopping sprees, and travel, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.
The stakes are high for the accused, as conspiracy charges carry up to five years in the slammer, ten for healthcare fraud or money laundering, and aggravated identity theft adds an obligatory two-year sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona. Moreover, each charge might also hit their wallets with maximum fines double the financial blow to AHCCCS, not to forget full restitution payments. Yet, per U.S. legal standards, the indictment is not a declaration of guilt, and innocence is maintained until evidence convinces a jury otherwise.
An indictment, as the wise keep reminding, isn't the same as a conviction. The FBI, with a helping hand from IRS Criminal Investigation, spearheaded the inquiry leading to the charges. The prosecution ball is now in the court of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, tasked with handling what's shaped up to be a high-stakes courtroom drama.
