A 43-year-old woman faces federal charges for allegedly defrauding Utah Medicaid of more than $4 million by submitting fraudulent claims for services that were never provided or were performed by unqualified individuals, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah.
Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
Jazzamin Tashay Clark, a resident of Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, was charged on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, with healthcare fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Federal prosecutors allege that between July 2024 and October 2025, Clark orchestrated a scheme to obtain illicit financial benefits by submitting false claims for therapy services.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the fraudulent claims included services that were never rendered, services performed by unlicensed or unqualified providers, or services that were not covered by Medicaid. The scheme allegedly resulted in Clark receiving a payout exceeding $4 million.
Exploitation of Provider Identifiers
The federal investigation revealed that Clark established businesses intended to treat individuals suffering from substance use disorders in Salt Lake City. Prosecutors allege she recruited Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries, including individuals experiencing homelessness, under the guise of providing Medicaid-reimbursable services.
To facilitate the billing, Clark allegedly used the National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers of several out-of-state providers. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that many of these providers were unqualified to perform the billed services and were entirely unaware that their NPI numbers were being used in such a manner to bill Medicaid for therapy and other services.
Substandard Sober Living Homes
Beyond the fraudulent billing for therapy, Clark is accused of operating substandard sober living homes in West Valley City. Federal authorities allege that these homes were intended to serve as residential support for those struggling with substance abuse.
In reality, the U.S. Attorney's Office stated that these homes left Medicaid beneficiaries to fend for themselves rather than providing the necessary assistance to help them maintain sobriety.
Legal Proceedings Begin
The charges against Clark come as Utah lawmakers continue to deliberate on the allocation of significant additional funds. The federal indictment marks a major development in the oversight of Medicaid-reimbursable services and the regulation of substance abuse treatment facilities in the state.
Medicaid Oversight Challenges
The allegations highlight the complexities of monitoring Medicaid claims, which require the inclusion of the NPI number for the healthcare provider who ordered, supervised, or performed the billed services. The alleged use of these identifiers by Clark allowed for the submission of claims that bypassed standard qualification checks.
Timeline of Allegations
The U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah, remains the primary source for the details regarding the specific timeframe of the fraud, which spanned from mid-2024 through late 2025. The charges specifically target the financial gain Clark achieved through the combination of fraudulent billing and the operation of the West Valley City properties.
