New River couple convicted of $12 million AHCCCS fraud scheme

Date: Feb. 27, 2026

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Phoenix, AZ - Thvoughn Lynden Curry and Alexis Daneen Curry, both of New River, Arizona, were recently convicted in federal court based on their scheme to defraud the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona's Medicaid Agency, of over $12 million. Following a four-day bench trial before Senior U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow, both defendants were convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, three counts of Health Care Fraud, and eight counts of Transactional Money Laundering. Their sentencings are scheduled for May 4, 2026.

"Individuals, like the Currys, who exploit and undermine government healthcare programs for personal gain will be identified, investigated and held accountable in federal court," said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. "The men and women of IRS Criminal Investigation follow the money with precision and persistence, tracking every dollar stolen through fraud, corruption and other illicit means. I appreciate their work along with the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General and the Mesa Police Department, who were critical to bringing these two fraudsters to justice."

According to the evidence presented at trial, the Currys defrauded AHCCCS through "1 Family Clinic, LLC," their purported outpatient behavioral health clinic in Mesa, Arizona. They first defrauded AHCCCS by submitting a fraudulent application to enroll as an AHCCCS provider. In so doing, they falsely stated that Alexis Curry was the 100% owner and only managing employee of 1 Family Clinic. They falsely omitted that Thvoughn Curry, who had an active, outstanding warrant for felony fraud charges at the time, was also an owner and managing employee of 1 Family Clinic.

Once approved by AHCCCS based on the fraudulent application, the Currys engaged in fraudulent billing practices. Between approximately Feb. 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023, the Currys routinely billed AHCCCS in a uniform, nearly identical pattern for services that were not actually provided. Throughout the course of the scheme, 1 Family billed an average of more than 12 hours of service per member per day-despite being open just eight hours per day on weekdays, five hours on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. As a result of their fraudulent billings, AHCCCS paid 1 Family Clinic more than $12 million-funds that were intended to be used for legitimate healthcare services for low-income individuals.

The evidence at trial showed that the Currys spent much of the money they received from AHCCCS on themselves. They purchased properties and luxury vehicles, including a 2019 Lamborghini Urus for more than $300,000.

"Medicaid provides an essential service to some of the most vulnerable members of our community," said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory. "For these fraudsters to exploit this system and steal millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars is unconscionable. This guilty verdict marks a significant step toward justice for those victimized by the Currys and serves as a reminder that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are experts at following the money. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uncovering fraud and ensuring fraudsters are held fully accountable for their crimes."

"AHCCCS remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the safety of our members and safeguarding the integrity of our programs, which rely on federal and taxpayer resources," said Roberta Harrison, Interim Director of AHCCCS. "The AHCCCS Office of Inspector General continues to vigorously investigate fraud, waste, and abuse and will carry out its responsibilities in full compliance with federal, state, and agency regulations."

"This case is a great example of how agencies work in cooperation with the common goal of holding offenders accountable for their crimes," said Mesa Police Chief Dan Butler. "We are thankful for the relationships we have built with our partner agencies. It is rewarding to see the impressive results of everyone coming together to see justice served."

Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count of conviction, a fine, and restitution owed to AHCCCS.

IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with substantial assistance from the Mesa Police Department and AHCCCS-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Corbet and Lindsay Short, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.