Uplifting Journey LLC

Uplifting Journey LLC was an Oregon-based behavioral-health company founded in November 2023 and co-owned by Julius Maximo and Espoir Ntezeyombi. Between April 2024 and March 2025, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) paid Uplifting Journey $2,317,496.20 in Medicaid reimbursements for substance-abuse treatment through the Oregon Health Plan. The company’s Lake Oswego residential facility became the subject of state and federal scrutiny after two of its residents were charged in connection with a kidnapping, torture, and attempted murder in Washington State, and federal authorities identified the men as members of the Venezuelan organized criminal syndicate Tren de Aragua. 1  2  3

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At-A-Glance

Type: Other
Formation:

2023

Status:

Administratively dissolved

Location: Portland, OR View on map

Contents

    Background

    Uplifting Journey LLC was registered on November 8, 2023, with its stated principal place of business being in Portland, Oregon. On December 14, 2023, co-owner Ntezeyombi signed a Provider Enrollment Agreement with the Oregon Health Authority to receive Medicaid reimbursements for outpatient substance-abuse treatment. 1  4

    Oregon Health Authority (OHA) payment records cited by investigative reporter Jeff Eager showed that OHA paid Uplifting Journey $2,317,496.20 between April 15, 2024, and March 14, 2025. 2

    OHA spokesperson Amy Bacher confirmed in a statement that OHA conducted no criminal-background checks and no site visits before approving Uplifting Journey’s Medicaid enrollment. 5

    Controversy

    Residents’ Alleged Criminal Activity

    Until approximately April 1, 2025, Uplifting Journey operated a residential facility on Bonita Road in Lake Oswego, Oregon, which the company represented to neighbors as a sober-living house for people recovering from addiction.

    In January 2025, King County, Washington, prosecutors charged Kevin Daniel Sanabria-Ojeda, a Venezuelan national and resident of the Uplifting Journey house, with kidnapping, torturing, robbing, and attempted murder. According to charging documents, the victim was abducted outsider her Seattle residence, tortured in an effort to obtain financial information, robbed, shot, and left near a rural highway before surviving and reaching safety. 6

    Federal and state law enforcement identified Sanabria-Ojeda and a second unnamed resident of the house, who as of January 2026 remained at large, as illegal immigrants from Venezuela and alleged members of the Tren de Aragua drug and human-trafficking syndicate. 6 A third resident of the Uplifting Journey house was later interviewed by police in Texas, appearing to act as an informant. 7

    Lake Oswego police reportedly responded to the property at least 17 times between 2024 and 2025 for complaints, including reports of screaming women, suspected drug use, large numbers of people coming and going at night, and breaking and entering. 8

    Alleged Ties to Medicaid Fraud Ring

    Reporting has identified links between Uplifting Journey and individuals connected to a Medicaid fraud case in Arizona involving roughly $60 million in alleged improper billing.

    In April 2025, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) announced charges against Happy House Behavioral Health LLC and its owners with Medicaid fraud for allegedly billing the state for ineligible patients, including deceased and incarcerated individuals. The indictment also included related money-laundering charges tied to alleged transfers of fraud proceeds. 4

    Uplifting Journey co-owner Julius Maximo co-signed a November 2024 lease with an Arizona pastor later charged in the Happy House case. Uplifting Journey co-owner Espoir Ntezeyombi had previously listed employment with an Arizona behavioral health company allegedly connected to individuals named in the Arizona indictment. As of May 2026, no formal Medicaid-fraud charges against Uplifting Journey LLC itself had been publicly announced.  4

    Legislative and Federal Response

    On September 23, 2025, Oregon State Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Scio) called on the Oregon Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to investigate both Uplifting Journey LLC and the Oregon Health Authority’s oversight practices related to Medicaid enrollment and reimbursement procedures. The Oregon Health Authority terminated Uplifting Journey’s Medicaid enrollment the following day. On December 30, 2025, OHA also terminated the Medicaid enrollment of Life Restoration Missions LLC, a separate company that also listed Julius Maximo as an owner.  9  10

    In March 2026, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce requested information from Oregon officials regarding Medicaid-fraud oversight, citing reporting on Uplifting Journey. The Oregon Department of Justice did not confirm whether an investigation was opened. Gov. Tina Kotek’s office stated the state maintains systems to detect and investigate fraud and cited ongoing enforcement efforts. 9  7  11

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    References

    1. Oregon Secretary of State Business Registry, Uplifting Journey LLC (entity #2445065). Accessed April 20, 2026. https://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=2445065&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE.
    2. Oregon Health Authority Medicaid payment records (public records request). Cited in: Eager, Jeff. “Oregon paid $2.3M to company running home of alleged gangster/attempted murderer.” Oregon Roundup Foundation. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://oregonroundup.substack.com/p/oregon-paid-23m-to-company-running.
    3. King County, Washington charging documents, Case No. 25-c-06265-8. Cited in: Eager, Jeff. “Oregon paid $2.3M to company running home of alleged gangster/attempted murderer.” Oregon Roundup Foundation. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://oregonroundup.substack.com/p/oregon-paid-23m-to-company-running.
    4. Eager, Jeff. “Oregon Medicaid Fraud? What We Know.” Oregon Roundup Foundation. December 30, 2025. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://oregonroundup.substack.com/p/oregon-medicaid-fraud-what-we-know.
    5. Eager, Jeff. “OHA: No Uplifting Journey Background, Site Checks.” Oregon Roundup Foundation. February 3, 2026. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://oregonroundup.substack.com/p/oha-no-uplifting-journey-background.
    6. King County, Washington charging documents, Case No. 25-c-06265-8. Cited in: Eager, Jeff. “Oregon paid $2.3M to company running home of alleged gangster/attempted murderer.” Oregon Roundup Foundation. August 17, 2025. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://oregonroundup.substack.com/p/oregon-paid-23m-to-company-running.
    7. Eager, Jeff. “The Tren de Aragua Trail of Terror.” Oregon Roundup Foundation. January 4, 2026. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://oregonroundup.substack.com/p/the-tren-de-aragua-trail-of-terror.
    8. Daviscourt, Katie. “Oregon police responded 17 times to home occupied by Tren de Aragua gang members charged with torture, kidnapping, attempted murder.” The Post Millennial. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://thepostmillennial.com/exclusive-oregon-police-responded-17-times-to-home-occupied-by-tren-de-aragua-gang-members-charged-with-torture-kidnapping-attempted-murder-charging-documents.
    9. Eager, Jeff. “Oregon Ended Uplifting Journey Payments After Diehl Letter, Roundup Reporting.” Oregon Roundup Foundation. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://oregonroundup.substack.com/p/oregon-ended-uplifting-journey-payments.
    10. Diehl, Rep. Ed (R-Scio). Oregon Legislature constituent newsletter: “URGENT: Possible $2.3 Million Medicaid Fraud Case.” Oregon State Legislature. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORLEG/bulletins/3f3fb47.
    11. Thacker, Midge. “State officials defend Oregon health care fraud enforcement efforts.” The Lund Report. March 18, 2026. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://www.thelundreport.org/content/state-officials-defend-oregon-health-care-fraud-enforcement-efforts.