Montana
Montana Commissioner uncovers $23M fraud targeting Tribal communities
HELENA, Mont. — Montana State Auditor and Insurance Commissioner James Brown announced his office has uncovered a multi-million-dollar health care fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable members of Montana’s tribal communities, saving a state insurer and its customers more than $23.3 million.
Brown said the scheme involved recruiters who lured Native Americans from Montana reservations to so-called treatment centers in California by offering free, luxury rehabilitation. Victims were asked to sign paperwork for federally subsidized Affordable Care Act policies before being flown out of state, sometimes within the same day.
Instead of receiving mental health or addiction treatment, the individuals found themselves in overcrowded homes with little to no care. Some were left on the streets after a few weeks, while the fraudulent clinics billed insurance companies up to $9,000 per day per person, Brown said.
“We discovered a fraud scheme that involved fraudulently billing our insurance companies and their customers about $23.3 million in unsupported and unjustified bills,” Brown told NBC Montana. “We were able to expose the scheme, stop the demands for payment, and save Montanans millions of dollars as well as protect the quality of healthcare in our state.”
The Commissioner’s Office began investigating the fraud in early 2025 after PacificSource Health Plans, a nonprofit insurer providing Affordable Care Act coverage in Montana, reported suspicious claims. Investigators found at least 200 suspected fraudulent enrollments linked to California treatment facilities, with total claims of up to $50 million.
Under the ACA, Native Americans can enroll in marketplace plans at any time, which made it possible for out-of-state scammers to exploit same-day enrollments. Brown described the conduct as a form of human trafficking, saying participants were coerced into signing policies and transported across state lines for fake treatment.
“What was happening is that our citizens would be shipped down to California or to Arizona. No treatment would actually be provided,” Brown said. “Then the insurance companies that run the Obamacare plans would then be charged for the services that were never provided.”
Brown credited the quick cooperation of PacificSource in halting the billing and preventing further fraud. He said PacificSource contacted his office quickly and they worked closely with federal law enforcement and tribal leaders to stop the scheme.
The investigation, which began within weeks of Brown taking office, continues to probe other insurers in Montana that may have been targeted. Brown said additional rescissions could raise total savings to $50 million.
“What’s so outrageous about this scheme is that these fraudsters are not just stealing money,” Brown said. “They’re exploiting people with addiction, coercing them into bogus treatment. They’re engaging in human trafficking. They’re abandoning them far from home. They’re targeting our tribal communities for profit. This is really the most reprehensible kind of corruption if you prey on our Native American families in this state.”
Brown’s office has referred parts of the case to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for potential criminal prosecution.
Where Khloe Kardashian Stands With Ex French Montana More Than 10 Years After Breakup
French Montana is done keeping up with reality TV.
In fact, he only agreed to appear on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Kourtney & Khloé Take the Hamptons over a decade ago as a favor to then-girlfriend Khloe Kardashian.
“She said to get on the show,” he exclusively told E! News at the BET Awards on June 28. “And I got on the show. Shout out to Khloe.”
The “Ever Since U Left Me” rapper, who split with Kardashian in December 2014 after eight months of dating, said the experience was “fun” because her family kept it real.
“They filmed their real life,” he continued. “And we were part of something together that one time. So it felt great. It didn’t feel like work because they film what they do everyday.”
As for his future in reality TV, the 41-year-old said those days are over, shutting down any prospective offers with a simple, “Negative.”
Although the “Unforgettable” artist—whose real name is Karim Kharbouch—may not be returning to television anytime soon, he has no problem hanging out with his ex-girlfriend these days.
French Montana, Rick Ross & Max B Turn the BET Awards Into “
06/28/2026
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GREAT FALLS — For Staff Sgt. Brianna St. Lawrence-Brody, service does not only happen in uniform.
Outside the gates of the base, she works at Benefis as a nurse, Great Falls Public Schools as a school nurse, and comes home as a wife and mom of four. For the Montana Air National Guard, she serves as a command post controller with the 120th Airlift Wing in Great Falls.
(WATCH: Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition)
Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition
This year, St. Lawrence-Brody was named the U.S. Air National Guard’s Outstanding Airman of the Year in the Non-Commissioned Officer category.
She said the recognition came as a surprise, especially because her path into the Guard started later than others.
“I joined very late in life,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I joined the Guard right before I turned 40. So for me, every opportunity that’s presented, I want to take the bull by the horns and just run with it and do the best of my ability.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined the Guard after finishing nursing school. She said she went straight from nursing school into helping open a COVID unit, while also working at Benefis.
She said that experience was the start of one journey, but not the whole of what she wanted to accomplish.
St. Lawrence-Brody joined the Guard for the opportunities, the challenge and to help build a future for her four children.
“It’s a little bit of a competition for myself,” she said. “Like, if I can do it, why not try my best to achieve it?”
120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
As a command post controller, she assists in helping move information during emergencies and major events.
“Outside, obviously, I’m a nurse. Inside the Guard, I have nothing to do with the medical field, which is kind of amazing,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “It keeps me on my toes.”
She explained balancing the Guard, two civilian jobs and four children takes support from her family, her employers and her unit. She said Benefis and GFPS have been supportive of her military service.
Her nomination included her deployment experience, training work overseas and involvement across the wing. St. Lawrence-Brody said she deployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where she worked with an operations center supporting entities connected to Africa.
But, she says this recognition is not the finish line.
“This award, it’s not necessarily a landing pad for me,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I want to use it as a springboard.”
120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
St. Lawrence-Brody hopes her story encourages others to keep taking on new opportunities, even when they feel uncertain.
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and be okay with doing things afraid,” she said. “I think when you get to be okay with doing things afraid, that’s where you’re going to find the growth.”
She has already won at the Air National Guard level, but she recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of the broader Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year process, which includes nominees from the Guard, Reserve and major commands across the Air Force.
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