Ten people have been indicted by a State Grand Jury in connection with patient brokering.
Vestine Mukarukundo, Nasibu Bauni, Pierrette Kagame, Jean Bosco Nsabimana, Immaculate Nutesi, Espoir Muhumure Nzabakiza, Willy Rutaysire, Jose Miguel Saturnino-Corrales, Julienne Swaka, and Angela Dauz Turgano were indicted with Illegal Control of an Enterprise, and other charges related to patient brokering.
The accused allegedly ran unlicensed sober living or transitional living homes around the Valley. The indictment alleges that they agreed to send 75 of their patients, many on the American Indian Health Plan (AIHP) administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), to a fake behavioral healthcare facility while expecting the fake facility to pay the Defendants $300 per-person each week.
Unaware the behavioral healthcare facility was fake, the defendants are accused of transporting their patients to the “Grand Opening” of the fake facility on November 16, 2023. Investigators form the Attorney General’s Office along with AHCCCS investigators and AHCCCS quality care staff were on scene to ensure that the patients received care and an opportunity to move to licensed facilities that will provide legitimate care and housing.
The investigation that led to the indictment was conducted by Special Agents of the Attorney General’s Office and investigators from the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General.