Kevin Lamorris McKenzie was sentenced last month to 14 years in federal prison, in addition to a concurrent five-year sentence, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzlement from a Native American tribe.
Prosecutors say McKenzie, who served as COO and later CEO of Apache Behavioral Health Services, orchestrated a scheme to defraud the organization and the White Mountain Apache Tribe of millions of dollars.
Investigators allege McKenzie used contracts as a front to divert funds from the behavioral health organization to himself. The organization paid more than $35 million to a group called Helping Everyday Youth, which secretly funneled the money to a shell company controlled by McKenzie.
McKenzie also reportedly routed funds through Evolved Health Care Inc., a company owned by a co-defendant, and shared profits from the scheme.
As part of his sentence, McKenzie was ordered to repay over $33 million and surrender real estate and luxury vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce.
Authorities said the sentence reflects the seriousness of exploiting tribal organizations and misusing public funds intended for community health services.
