Summary
A Phoenix-area addiction treatment clinic owner has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for her role in a Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $69 million in fraudulent billing, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Rita Ntusa Anagho, 54, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, owned and operated Tusa Integrated Clinic LLC, an addiction treatment center that billed Arizona’s Medicaid agency, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), more than $69 million from approximately May 2022 through March 2023.
AHCCCS paid Tusa approximately $54.9 million based on the fraudulent claims.
Anagho was also ordered to pay almost $55 million in restitution and forfeit almost $9.5 million in fraud proceeds seized from seven bank accounts, along with almost $7 million in real estate properties.
Key details of the case
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Rita Ntusa Anagho |
| Age | 54 |
| Location | San Tan Valley, Arizona |
| Clinic | Tusa Integrated Clinic LLC |
| Type of business | Addiction treatment center |
| Medicaid agency | Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System |
| Fraudulent billing | More than $69 million |
| Amount paid by AHCCCS | Approximately $54.9 million |
| Prison sentence | 14 years |
| Restitution | Almost $55 million |
| Bank account proceeds forfeited | Almost $9.5 million |
| Real estate forfeited | Almost $7 million |
| Guilty plea | May 2025 |
| Investigating agencies | FBI and HHS-OIG |
How the $69 million Medicaid fraud scheme worked
According to court documents cited by the DOJ, Anagho coordinated and carried out a healthcare fraud scheme through Tusa Integrated Clinic.
Trade Sanctions on Israeli Settlements Announced by 12 Nations Including UK, France, Canada
The clinic submitted claims to AHCCCS for purported addiction treatment services that, according to prosecutors, were either not provided or not provided as billed.
Anagho enrolled patients whose healthcare coverage was provided through AHCCCS at her clinic.
Federal prosecutors said Anagho and her co-conspirators specifically targeted AHCCCS patients covered under the American Indian Health Care Program (AIHP) fee-for-service plan, which is available to Native Americans.
Why AIHP patients were targeted
The DOJ said Anagho and her co-conspirators deliberately sought patients covered under AIHP because the program provided higher reimbursement rates than other AHCCCS healthcare plans.
The alleged scheme therefore involved enrolling patients covered by the higher-reimbursement program and submitting claims for addiction treatment services.
According to the DOJ, the claims were fraudulent because the services were either not provided at all or were not provided in the manner described in the claims.
The scheme resulted in Tusa billing AHCCCS more than $69 million in less than one year.
Alleged kickbacks to sober homes
The fraud scheme also involved alleged illegal payments to sober home operators.
EU sanctions against Russia: 21st package expands banking, crypto and oil restrictions
According to the DOJ, Anagho and her co-conspirators paid illegal kickbacks to owners of numerous area sober homes in connection with patients referred to Tusa.
The alleged arrangement helped direct patients to the addiction treatment clinic.
Prosecutors said Anagho then submitted claims to AHCCCS for purported treatment services associated with those patients.
The DOJ said the conduct involved vulnerable substance abuse treatment patients and exploited the reimbursement structure of the Medicaid program.
Falsified treatment records used to conceal fraud
The DOJ also said Anagho and others falsified treatment notes and records relating to the purported addiction treatment services. According to court documents, the records were used to conceal the alleged fraud and support claims submitted to AHCCCS.
The conduct allegedly continued after authorities began investigating the clinic.
When Tusa received a subpoena for documents, Anagho allegedly instructed former employees to create fake medical records. The DOJ said Anagho also laundered proceeds from the fraud and obstructed the investigation into her conduct.
Anagho pleaded guilty in May 2025
Anagho pleaded guilty in May 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and healthcare fraud. She was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in prison. The court also ordered her to pay almost $55 million in restitution.
In addition, the government will forfeit almost $9.5 million in fraud proceeds seized from seven bank accounts controlled by Anagho and almost $7 million in real estate properties.
Financial penalties
The sentencing order includes three major financial components:
- Almost $55 million in restitution
- Almost $9.5 million in fraud proceeds forfeited
- Almost $7 million in real estate properties forfeited
Hawaii couple sentenced to prison for roles in nationwide tax refund fraud conspiracy — DOJ
The restitution and forfeiture figures are separate legal remedies and should not be combined as a single loss amount.
FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case
The FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) investigated the case.
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day said the agency would continue working with law enforcement partners to investigate individuals who target, defraud or exploit healthcare programs.
HHS-OIG Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett said Medicaid funds are intended to support vulnerable individuals and that the agency would continue pursuing those who defraud Medicaid.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division also said the Fraud Division would hold accountable individuals who exploit Medicaid and Native American healthcare programs.
DOJ’s broader healthcare fraud enforcement
The case comes as the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, also known as the Fraud Division, expands its focus on fraud against government programs.
The DOJ announced the creation of the Fraud Division on April 7 to investigate and prosecute fraud against the American public.
The department also highlighted its Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which currently consists of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the United States.
According to the DOJ, the program has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal healthcare programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007.
Agencies involved in healthcare fraud enforcement
The DOJ said federal agencies are working with healthcare program authorities to identify and prosecute fraudulent billing.
The agencies and programs referenced in the case include:
- U.S. Department of Justice
- FBI
- HHS Office of Inspector General
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The DOJ said CMS, working with HHS-OIG, is also taking steps to hold healthcare providers accountable for involvement in fraud schemes.
To read the original order please visit Department of Justice (DOJ) website