Federal authorities have charged two Colorado residents in separate cases for allegedly defrauding Medicaid’s non-emergent medical transportation (NEMT) program. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office announced that Ashley Marie Stevens, 40, from Mesa County, and Wesam Yassin, 42, from Douglas County, face multiple charges related to fraudulent billing practices.
Stevens is charged with six counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of health care fraud, and six counts of money laundering. According to the indictment, between July 2022 and February 2023, Stevens used her business Armistead Twin Rides, LLC., to bill Colorado Medicaid for over one million dollars in NEMT rides. More than $400,000 was billed for rides for herself and family members without corresponding medical appointments. The indictment also states that over $150,000 was billed for rides either not provided or unrelated to any medical provider or service. Furthermore, more than $450,000 was billed for rides listed as 400 or more miles long per patient per day; most did not match actual medical destinations or appointments. Proceeds were allegedly used for personal expenses such as travel and purchasing a luxury vehicle.
Yassin faces six counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of health care fraud, and eight counts of money laundering. From March 2022 to October 2023, Yassin is accused of billing approximately $3.3 million under his business Sama Limo. One instance cited in the indictment alleges Yassin billed around $283,000 for 64 rides for a single beneficiary—about $165,000 of which occurred after the beneficiary’s death. The remainder did not correspond to any medical appointments in Colorado. Other instances involve hundreds of thousands of dollars billed for rides beneficiaries claim never happened. The funds obtained were allegedly spent on personal items including a home, furnishings, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and cosmetic surgery.
“The charges contained in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Rebecca Weber—Colorado First Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Medicaid Fraud Abuse & Neglect Unit—is prosecuting these cases as Special Assistant United States Attorney.
The Colorado Medicaid Fraud Abuse and Neglect Unit receives most of its funding through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services totaling over $4 million for fiscal year 2026; state funds cover about one quarter.
Case numbers are Stevens – 25-CR-0344-PAB; Yassin – 26-CR-34-PAB.
