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Arizona Attorney General's Office Has Brought 188 Sober Living Indictments Since 2021

Ten of those indicted are accused in a patient brokering scheme involving unlicensed sober-living homes; victims' families say no trafficking, homicide, manslaughter, vulnerable adult abuse or drug charges have been brought in connection with sober living.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 15, 2026, 5:37 p.m. ET

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Since 2021 the has brought 188 indictments related to a sober living scheme. The matter is at the charging stage, and the allegations in the indictments have not been tested at trial. Among the 188 are 10 people indicted in an alleged patient brokering scheme involving unlicensed sober-living homes. Investigators with the say the group of 10 ran unlicensed sober-living homes and agreed to send 75 clients to a fake behavioral health facility in exchange for kickbacks of $300 per person each week. Vestine Mukarukundo is one of the 10 people indicted. Those 10 are accused, not convicted, and an indictment is not proof of guilt. The record available for this account does not include a response from Mukarukundo or from lawyers for the others . One related case has produced a conviction by plea. James Demasi, who ran Thomas Suites and owned the New Life Wellness centers, pleaded guilty in 2023 to fraudulent schemes and illegal control of an enterprise on behalf of New Life Wellness. As part of a plea deal, Demasi agreed to $25 million in restitution. Victims' families say that no trafficking, homicide, manslaughter, vulnerable adult abuse or drug charges have been brought in connection with sober living.

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  1. Version 115 Aug 2026, 21:53current

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  2. Version 115 Aug 2026, 21:37current

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  3. Version 115 Aug 2026, 21:41current

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