Eric Riley and Britney Gooch, both residents of Mesa, have been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state’s Medicaid agency. U.S. District Judge Krissa M. Lanham handed down sentences earlier this month: Riley received 24 months of imprisonment on February 6, 2026, while Gooch was sentenced to 12 months and one day on February 20, 2026.
Both Riley and Gooch pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud charges related to their operation of New Horizons Behavioral Health, a behavioral health clinic in Mesa. According to court documents, between 2020 and 2022 they exploited AHCCCS’s American Indian Health Program (AIHP) by submitting false claims for services that were never provided to AIHP patients. This fraudulent activity resulted in approximately $3.3 million in proceeds obtained from AHCCCS.
In addition to their prison terms, both defendants have been ordered to pay $3.3 million in restitution to AHCCCS.
“This case is about protecting American taxpayers, restoring the public’s trust, and safeguarding critical health care resources for the communities that truly need them,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Working with our FBI and AHCCCS-OIG partners, we not only secured convictions in this case, but also maximized the recovery of stolen money through the $3.3 million restitution order.”
The investigation was conducted by FBI Phoenix with assistance from the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Phoenix.
Further information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
