Valley Duo Admits Guilt in Major Health Care Fraud Scandal

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A Valley couple has entered guilty pleas in federal court, admitting to their involvement in a fraudulent healthcare scheme targeting terminally ill patients.

Jeffrey King, 46, and his wife Alexandra Gehrke, 39, face serious charges related to health care fraud. King pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud on January 31, while Gehrke had previously entered a similar plea last October.

The couple is accused of operating businesses that submitted approximately $1.2 billion in fraudulent claims to health insurance systems, with $960 million directed toward federal health programs, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

These companies primarily provided wound care and allegedly pressured nurse practitioners into administering unnecessary wound grafts to patients.

As part of their plea agreements, King and Gehrke must collectively pay