An Arizona pastor has been indicted alongside 16 others in a sweeping Medicaid fraud case, accused of helping funnel millions in state healthcare funds through fake rehab claims and laundering the proceeds through his church, state officials announced.
A grand jury indicted 17 individuals and two organizations, including Hope of Life International Church and its pastor, Theodore Mucuranyana. Authorities allege that from August 2022 to July 2023, co-defendants Desire Rusingizwa and Fabrice Mvuyekure used their business, Happy House Behavioral Health, to submit more than $60 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims, according to AZ Central.
Prosecutors allege that the company billed for services to patients who were deceased, incarcerated or hospitalized—and funneled more than $5 million to the church as the investigation loomed.
Most defendants were scheduled to be arraigned between May 20 and May 27. Mucuranyana and the church face money laundering charges, while Happy House has been suspended from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Assets including luxury goods and properties are now subject to seizure as part of ongoing investigations.
The pastor’s lawyer told 12 News that he knew “nothing” about the alleged fraud.
Since Attorney General Kris Mayes took office in early 2023, over 100 people across 14 cases have been charged following accusations of exploiting the system—largely by billing for nonexistent alcohol and drug rehabilitation services,
Officials say more indictments could follow as investigations continue into how widespread the misuse of state funds may be.
Originally published on Latin Times