Two Mesa residents pleaded guilty in the past month to fraud involving Arizona's Medicaid system.

CoEric Riley, 38, of Mesa, pleaded guilty on Dec. 17 to health care fraud. His co-defendant, Britney Gooch, 37, of Mesa, pleaded guilty to health care fraud on Nov. 21.

Sentencing for Riley and Gooch is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Krissa M. Lanham, according to a release.

Riley and Gooch admitted they defrauded the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, through their company New Horizons Behavioral Health, a behavioral health clinic in Mesa.

They further admitted that through New Horizons, they exploited AHCCCS’s American Indian Health Program by falsely billing for services that were not provided to AIHP patients.

As a result of the fraudulent billing submissions, Riley and Gooch obtained approximately $3.3 million in illegitimate proceeds from AHCCCS, the release states.

A conviction for health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Phoenix Division conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.