Court sentences clinic owner after prosecutors said fraudulent claims exceeded $69 million
A 54-year-old nurse practitioner in Arizona, Rita Ntusa Anagho, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for her role in a healthcare fraud scheme involving more than $69 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims.
According to the United States Department of Justice, Anagho owned and operated Tusa Integrated Clinic, an addiction-treatment centre in Arizona.
Court documents showed that the clinic submitted more than $69 million in fraudulent claims to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) between approximately May 2022 and March 2023. AHCCCS paid approximately $54.9 million on those claims.
Prosecutors describe extensive fraud scheme
US authorities said Anagho and her co-conspirators enrolled vulnerable patients into the clinic and submitted claims for addiction-treatment services that were either not provided, not provided as billed or were medically unnecessary.
The Department of Justice said the operation specifically targeted patients covered by the American Indian Health Program because it offered higher reimbursement rates.
Prosecutors also alleged that illegal kickbacks were paid to owners of sober homes in exchange for patient referrals.
False records and investigation obstruction
According to the Justice Department, Anagho and others falsified treatment notes and records relating to services that had purportedly been provided.
Authorities also said she instructed former employees to create fake medical records after the clinic received a subpoena during the federal investigation.
The proceeds of the scheme were subsequently laundered, according to prosecutors.
Guilty plea preceded sentencing
Federal court records show that Anagho pleaded guilty in May 2025 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud.
Her case had initially involved multiple counts, including healthcare fraud, transactional money laundering and obstruction of a healthcare-fraud investigation.
The latest sentence formally concludes a case that began with a federal indictment in June 2024.
The US Department of Justice said the case demonstrated the financial and social consequences of exploiting public healthcare programmes intended to provide treatment to vulnerable patients.