Investigation · Follow the Money
How $10 Million in Medicaid Settlement Funds Got Funneled Through a Governor's Wife's Charity Into Political Dark Money
In 2023, Centene Corporation settled with Florida for $67 million after overbilling the state's Medicaid program. Of that settlement, $10 million was directed to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity founded by Casey DeSantis, wife of Governor Ron DeSantis. That money didn't go to helping Floridians. Investigators allege it was laundered through dark money nonprofits into a political committee opposing marijuana legalization.
Trace the path of $10 million in Medicaid settlement funds from a healthcare corporation's penalty through a governor's wife's charity to political dark money. Each arrow represents an alleged transfer documented in the investigation.
Note: "Dark money" refers to political spending by groups classified as 501(c)(4) nonprofits or similar entities that are not legally required to disclose their donors. The term describes the structural opacity of the funding, not necessarily illegality. Whether the transfers above constitute money laundering or wire fraud, as alleged by Rep. Andrade, is the subject of an ongoing investigation.
Florida's former First Lady founded the Hope Florida initiative in 2021 as a state-affiliated program, and the Hope Florida Foundation as an associated charitable entity. She is currently weighing a gubernatorial run.
Governor during the period in question. His administration oversaw both the Centene settlement through AHCA and the direction of $10 million to Hope Florida Foundation. Has dismissed the investigation as "pure politics."
Served as Ron DeSantis's chief of staff and chaired the "Keep Florida Clean" PAC that received $8.5 million. Now running for Florida Attorney General in 2026. Accused by Rep. Andrade of conspiring to commit money laundering and wire fraud.
Republican state legislator who led the initial legislative investigation into the Hope Florida funds. Made the public accusations of fraud against Uthmeier, citing text message evidence. Notable as a Republican investigating his own party's leadership.
Casey DeSantis launches the Hope Florida initiative, a public-private partnership intended to connect Floridians with community resources. The Hope Florida Foundation is established as a charitable arm.
Centene Corporation, Florida's largest Medicaid managed-care contractor, settles with the state's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for $67 million after a multi-state investigation found the company had overbilled Medicaid programs.
As part of the settlement process, $10 million is directed to the Hope Florida Foundation. Governor DeSantis later claims this was a voluntary corporate donation, not a formal condition of the settlement. Critics dispute this characterization.
The Foundation distributes the $10 million: $5 million to "Secure Florida's Future" (a Florida Chamber of Commerce entity) and $5 million to "Save Our Society From Drugs." Both are classified as dark money organizations with no requirement for detailed public financial disclosure.
The two dark money groups route a combined $8.5 million to "Keep Florida Clean," a political action committee chaired by James Uthmeier, DeSantis's chief of staff. The PAC campaigns aggressively against Amendment 3, the marijuana legalization ballot initiative.
Despite the multi-million dollar opposition campaign, Florida voters approve Amendment 3, legalizing recreational marijuana. The $8.5 million in dark money spending fails to achieve its political objective.
Rep. Alex Andrade (R) initiates a legislative investigation into the flow of funds. He cites text messages reportedly showing James Uthmeier's direct involvement in orchestrating the transfers.
Andrade publicly accuses Uthmeier and associate Jeff Aaron of "a conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud." He explicitly clears Casey DeSantis of personal involvement. The legislature drops its investigation, referring the matter to federal authorities.
A Florida grand jury hears evidence in the investigation of the charity tied to Casey DeSantis. The proceedings signal that the case has advanced beyond preliminary inquiry into potential criminal charges.
As of early 2026, the federal investigation continues. Casey DeSantis is weighing a gubernatorial run. James Uthmeier is running for Attorney General. No criminal charges have been filed.
Even setting aside the criminal allegations, the established facts alone paint a troubling picture of how Florida's political apparatus operates. Public Medicaid settlement funds -- money owed to Floridians who were overbilled for healthcare -- were routed through a charity founded by the Governor's wife, passed through dark money entities with no transparency requirements, and ultimately spent on a political campaign aligned with the Governor's policy preferences. Whether or not this constitutes a crime, it represents a failure of the guardrails meant to separate public funds from political machinery.
The involvement of a Republican state legislator in leading the investigation underscores that concerns about this money trail cross partisan lines. This is not a Democratic opposition hit job -- it is an intra-party reckoning with conduct that even allies find indefensible.
“I'm firmly convinced James Uthmeier and Jeff Aaron engaged in a conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud.
“I could not care less if Casey DeSantis wants to run for office. I don't see how she was personally involved in any of this.
“Pure politics.
Every factual claim on this page is drawn from the following published sources. We distinguish clearly between established facts and allegations, and encourage readers to verify independently.