A former state employee who oversaw purchasing at Arizona's Medicaid program has pleaded not guilty to charges that he stole at least $1.5 million from the program.
Maricopa County Superior Court officials said 63-year-old Michael Veit of Phoenix entered his plea Thursday.
A co-defendant, 67-year-old Michael Joseph Cameron, also pleaded not guilty on Thursday.
Veit and Cameron face numerous counts of such crimes as conspiracy, money laundering, trafficking in stolen property, theft and fraudulent schemes.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office launched a criminal investigation after an Inspector General investigation found what appeared to be improper business practices at the Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.
Veit was fired on Aug. 18 and arrested Sept. 2.
