Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today the conviction and first prison sentence in a case related to the ongoing Medicaid fraud scandal. Ariell Dix, 37, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of illegal control of an enterprise. She was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for her role in the scheme.
“This conviction and sentencing are a major step in our fight against sober living home fraud,” said Attorney General Mayes. “Make no mistake, criminals who defraud Arizona taxpayers and prey on vulnerable communities will be investigated and aggressively prosecuted by my office. I am proud of the work done by the agents and prosecutors at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in ensuring justice is served in this case.”
Dix facilitated Medicaid fraud by helping establish fake clinics, obtaining lists of patients to fraudulently bill AHCCCS, and falsifying patient records to ensure the flow of money to fraudulent entities she was involved with. The defendant is responsible for defrauding AHCCCS and the state out of tens of millions of dollars between January 2019 and September 2021.
The case was handled for the Attorney General's Office by Assistant Attorney General Brett Harames and Assistant Chief Special Agent Daniel Miller.