Arizona Fraud Scheme Exploited Indigenous People, Sparks Push for Justice

There is an ongoing impact of fraudulent sober living homes in Arizona that targeted Indigenous people for financial exploitation. Thousands were harmed, with victims experiencing abuse, addiction, homelessness, and even death. The fraud exploited government healthcare benefits, and despite warnings as early as 2019, state officials failed to act until 2023. A class-action lawsuit alleges negligence by state agencies for allowing the crisis to worsen. Advocates like Reva Stewart continue to push for accountability and support victims through outreach and initiatives. Arizona officials, including Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, have since introduced reforms, launched investigations, and allocated funds to tribal nations and nonprofits for recovery efforts. However, advocates argue more must be done to address the harm and provide justice for victims.