A Peoria man has been indicted on federal health care fraud and money laundering charges after prosecutors alleged that his behavioral health company submitted more than $33 million in false claims to Arizona’s Medicaid program.
A federal grand jury returned the 11-count indictment against Maurice Marcell Williams, 48, on Sept. 8, according to a Sept. 15 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, known as AHCCCS, paid about $19.7 million of the claims, prosecutors said.
The indictment is an accusation. Williams is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What prosecutors allege
Williams owned and operated Thinking and Learning Together 2 LLC, which represented itself to AHCCCS as a Phoenix provider of behavioral health treatment, according to the federal announcement.
Prosecutors allege that Williams failed to disclose his ownership of the company and a prior conviction when the business applied to participate in AHCCCS. They say the company then billed the state program for services that were never provided between May 2022 and May 2023.
The alleged billing focused on members of the American Indian Health Program’s fee-for-service system, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The program provides AHCCCS coverage options to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native members.
The dollar figures describe two different stages of the alleged scheme. More than $33 million is the amount prosecutors say the company billed. About $19.7 million is the amount they say AHCCCS paid. Neither figure is a final court judgment.
The federal announcement describes the program members as targets of the alleged billing and does not accuse them of wrongdoing. The charges concern provider enrollment, claims and the handling of proceeds.
The federal case is numbered 26-CR-1055-PHX-JJT.
Property and accounts named in indictment
The indictment includes forfeiture allegations seeking two residential properties, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and funds in brokerage accounts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. A forfeiture allegation identifies property the government contends is connected to a crime. It does not establish ownership of criminal proceeds, and the claims remain subject to court proceedings.
Williams faces multiple counts of health care fraud and money laundering. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if he is convicted, according to prosecutors. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge after considering federal law and sentencing guidelines.
Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aron Ketchel is prosecuting it.
Arizona’s Family also reported the indictment Tuesday, citing federal authorities.
How to report suspected provider fraud
AHCCCS accepts reports involving suspected false billing, services not provided and other provider misconduct. The agency’s fraud reporting page lists a provider-fraud hotline at 602-417-4045 and provides an online reporting option.
Featured image: Original editorial illustration generated for West Valley Post. It does not depict the defendant, an actual courthouse or evidence in the case.
Comments
Join the conversation. Keep comments relevant, civil and focused on the story.