In a fresh FBI probe, Sacred Circles of Healing and Wellness, a behavioral health provider operating on tribal land, is under investigation for potential Medicaid fraud. the case ties back to former fraudster Denis Artiles , whose previous facility NewFound Hope was suspended in 2023. The investigation has ignited a public spat between Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Republican State Senator Carine Werner.

FBI Focuses on Sacred Circles After NewFound Hope Collapse

According to documents obtained by FOX 10, the FBI has been investigating the individuals behind Sacred Circles, especially Denis Artiles,whose former entity NewFound Hope was shut down in 2023 over credible fraud allegations. Sacred Circles began operations in December 2025 and has since received nearly $294,000 from the state’s Medicaid agency, AHCCCS, according to financial records.

Senator Werner Accuses Sacred Circles of Ongoing Medicaid Fraud

Sen. Carine Werner claims to have evidence of continued Medicaid fraud through whistleblower complaints. She alleges that Sacred Circles is recruiting Native Americans from the Hopi reservation and transporting them in vans to a counseling facility in Tuba City on the Navajo Nation . Werner sttated in a press conference that bad actors have found a way to evade oversight by moving operations to tribal land where state licensing is not required.

Attorney General Responds, Claims Senator is “Liar”

The attorney general’s office has pushed back against Werner’s accusations, with Mayes calling the senator a liar after Werner criticized her for not securing aggressive prosecutions. However, an internal email from Special Agent Daniel Miller to Werner explicitly cites Sacred Circles of Health and Wellness and notes overlapping cases involving Denis Artiles. the email also mentions new evidence pointing to a C. Chatter as an owner and operator .

Corporate Leadership and Past Advocacy

Arizona Corporation Commission records list Coleen Chatter as the CEO of Sacred Circles of Healing and Wellness, based in Tuba City. Chatter was previously interviewed by FOX 10 in 2023 as an advocate for vulnerable and missing Native Americans seeking addiction help, where she spoke about providing shelter, food, and clothing. the FBI investigation remains active, but no formal charges have been filed against Artiles or others involved.

What’s Still Unclear About the Investigation?

Key questions remain: How much Medicaid money has Sacred Circles actually billed? Are there undisclosed partners beyond Artiles and Chatter? And will the FBI’s findings lead to criminal charges or just administrative penalties? The answers will shape the future of tribal‑land health services and the oversight of Medicaid fraud .