CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The founder of a Huntington-based sober living nonprofit and his wife are facing federal fraud charges as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, according to U.S. Attorney Moore Capito.
Federal prosecutors announced that Raymond “Rocky” Meadows II, 52, of Huntington, and Helen Crutcher Meadows, 49, of Tampa, Florida, have each been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to the criminal complaints, Raymond Meadows founded and directed Lifehouse Inc., a Huntington-based nonprofit, long-term, faith-based substance abuse recovery program that operated as a sober living community and received expense reimbursements through state and federal government grant programs. Prosecutors allege Meadows conspired with his wife and another individual to falsify and submit timesheets to a drug testing laboratory for work that was never performed.
Investigators allege the scheme included Helen Meadows routinely billing 32 hours of overtime each week for months at a time, as well as submitting hours while she and her husband were on out-of-state vacations. Authorities allege the laboratory issued payments based on the fraudulent timesheets before obtaining reimbursement from federal and state health care programs.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan T. Storage.
“As alleged in the criminal complaints, these defendants viewed West Virginia’s addiction crisis not as a tragedy, but as an opportunity,” Capito said.
“While families buried loved ones, communities fought to save lives, and taxpayers funded efforts to combat substance abuse, they allegedly exploited the system for personal gain. The damage from conduct like this extends far beyond dollars and cents — it robs communities of resources, undermines recovery efforts, and betrays public trust. We will continue to pursue fraudsters who enrich themselves through the misery of others and hold them fully accountable.”
Capito also announced a separate $120,000 civil settlement involving West Virginia Sleep Centers LLC, a Beckley sleep laboratory.
According to the settlement, the company agreed to pay $120,000 to resolve allegations that it submitted claims to Medicaid and the Veterans Administration Community Health program for sleep studies and polysomnogram reports that were prepared and signed by unqualified, non-physician staff between Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 9, 2020. The settlement resolves civil allegations and is not an admission of liability.
The Southern District of West Virginia announcements are part of a nationwide enforcement effort that resulted in criminal charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, involving more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims. Authorities also announced the seizure of more than $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry and other assets during the coordinated operation.
