Business owner accused of $33 million in fraudulent Arizona Medicaid billing

A Peoria man is accused of fraudulently billing Arizona’s Medicaid program more than $33 million and receiving about $19.7 million in payments over a year, federal prosecutors said.

Maurice Marcell Williams, 48, was indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury on 11 counts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine announced the charges Tuesday.

Prosecutors: Luxury vehicle bought with Arizona Medicaid funds

Williams owned and operated Thinking and Learning Together 2, LLC, a Phoenix behavioral health treatment provider.

According to prosecutors, he concealed his ownership of the company and a prior criminal conviction in his initial application to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, known as AHCCCS. The agency operates Medicaid in the Grand Canyon State.

Prosecutors allege Williams billed AHCCCS for services that were never provided, targeting Native American members enrolled in the American Indian Health Program’s fee-for-service plan. The alleged fraudulent billing took place between May 2022 and May 2023.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of two residential properties, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and brokerage accounts Williams owned.

His trial is set to start on Nov. 3, the same day as the general election.

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