PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a grim turn of events, Kenneth Terrell Harrison, 45, from College Park, Georgia, faced the consequences of his deceitful actions as he was sentenced on Monday to 52 months in prison for fraud targeting the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), better known as the state’s Medicaid agency.
Harrison, the owner of an outpatient behavioral health counseling service called Aurtism, LLC, based in Mesa, pleaded guilty to defrauding AHCCCS. He was also ordered to pay a staggering $6,538,485.09 in restitution. His fraudulent activities, which began in January 2020 and continued until October 2021, resulted in over $6.5 million in false billing claims.
Harrison’s deception started when he failed to disclose his ownership of Aurtism to AHCCCS, fearing that his prior criminal history would lead to the denial of their application. He then engaged in a fraudulent scheme by obtaining AHCCCS identification numbers for enrollees and billing the system for services that were never provided, predominantly to members of the American Indian Health Plan (AIHP).
During the sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi highlighted the particular harm caused to vulnerable populations in Arizona by such fraudulent acts. The investigation was carried out by the FBI’s Phoenix Division and IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Aron Ketchel handling the prosecution.
The sentence handed down to Harrison serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who attempt to exploit health care systems for personal gain. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow their latest news on Twitter at @USAO_AZ.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-0393-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-149_Harrison
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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