Former State Police officer sentenced to prison in Medicaid fraud case

A former New Mexico State Police officer has been sentenced to three years in prison for billing a Medicaid program hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims while running a substance abuse recovery program.

Morgan Ortiz, 41, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in October to two counts of Medicaid fraud over $20,000, one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft and one count of practicing medicine without a license, according to a news release from the New Mexico Department of Justice.

A grand jury indictment states the fraud took place from 2019 to April 2021. Prior to his sentencing, Ortiz resigned as a State Police officer after he was arrested for DWI.

"The three-year sentence is the maximum allowed by his plea agreement, which also included a total of $1.5 million in restitution from the defendants," the release states. "Ortiz was remanded into custody immediately following today’s sentencing hearing."

Dr. Keith Levitt, a co-defendant and doctor who had his medical license revoked on multiple occasions, was sentenced to probation in December. Levitt had his license suspended on one occasion after he allegedly began using painkillers and having staff fill the prescriptions.

Ortiz and Levitt were indicted in November 2024 after the two billed a Medicaid program over $800,000 worth of fraudulent claims while the two ran the now-shuttered Pain and Recovery Center. The center was made to offer outpatient detoxing services and ketamine infusion therapy.

"This outcome reinforces that those who manipulate our justice and health care systems will be met with meaningful consequences, including restitution for the damage they caused," Attorney General Raúl Torrez said.

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.