PHX Reporter

PHOENIX, Ariz. – United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino announced criminal charges against seven defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid (specifically AHCCCS, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System). The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.

The charges stem from schemes to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent billings. For example, Rita Anagho, acting primarily through her company Tusa Integrated Clinic LLC (“TUSA”), was charged for fraudulently billing AHCCCS approximately $69.7 million for behavioral healthcare services. Anagho primarily targeted AHCCCS’s American Indian Health Program (“AIHP”) and billed for services that were never provided or not provided as represented.

In another matter, Daud Koleosho and Adam Mutwol, acting primarily through their company Community Hope Wellness Center LLC (“CHWC”), fraudulently billed AHCCCS approximately $57.7 million for behavioral health care services. They also targeted AIHP and overbilled for services that were provided.

Alexandra Gehrke and Jeffrey King were charged for targeting elderly Medicare patients, many terminally ill in hospice care, for medically unnecessary wound grafts. Medicare and other health care benefit programs paid over $600 million based on their false claims. Gehrke and King were arrested on June 17, 2024, at Sky Harbor International Airport as they attempted to leave the country.

“It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company; if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“These cases involve not just massive fraud to steal public funds but also exploitation of vulnerable victims and misappropriation of resources earmarked for Native American communities,” said U.S. Attorney Restaino.

The charges announced today are part of a coordinated two-week nationwide law enforcement action resulting in criminal charges against 193 defendants involved in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes amounting to over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The Government seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets related to these cases.

“We will not tolerate fraud that preys on patients who need and deserve high-quality health care,” said Christi A. Grimm, Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG).

“Fraud against government-funded health care systems costs taxpayers billions each year,” said Brian Driscoll, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office.

The following individuals have been charged:

- Alexandra Gehrke

- Jeffery King

- Bethany Jameson

- Carlos Ching

- Rita Anagho

- Adam Mutwol

- Daud Koleosho

Gehrke and King face multiple charges including conspiracy and money laundering related to an alleged scheme involving amniotic allografts billed to Medicare at inflated prices.

Bethany Jameson is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud connected with applying medically unnecessary allografts procured through kickbacks.

Carlos Ching faces similar charges involving fraudulent billing practices through his company H3 Medical Clinic LLC.

Rita Anagho is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud involving her clinic Tusa Integrated Clinic LLC which allegedly submitted false claims worth $69 million.

Adam Mutwol and Daud Koleosho face charges related to an alleged $57 million substance abuse treatment fraud scheme through their company Community Hope Wellness Center LLC.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

Investigations were conducted by HHS-OIG; FBI; VA-OIG; DCIS; United States Attorney’s Office District of Arizona; DOJ Criminal Division Fraud Section.