Federal authorities have charged two Colorado residents in separate cases involving alleged fraud against Medicaid’s non-emergent medical transportation (NEMT) program. Ashley Marie Stevens, 40, of Mesa County, and Wesam Yassin, 42, of Douglas County, are accused of defrauding the program by submitting false claims for transportation services.
Stevens faces 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 billed Colorado Medicaid under Armistead Twin Rides, LLC., for over one million dollars in NEMT rides. The indictment states that more than $400,000 was billed for rides for herself and family members without corresponding medical appointments. It also alleges that over $150,000 was billed for rides either not provided or unrelated to any medical service. Additionally, Stevens is accused of billing more than $450,000 for rides exceeding 400 miles per patient per day; only a few matched actual medical appointments or destinations within that distance. Proceeds from these activities were allegedly used for personal expenses such as travel and purchasing a luxury vehicle.
Yassin faces similar charges: six counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of health care fraud, and eight counts of money laundering. The indictment claims that from March 2022 to October 2023 Yassin billed approximately $3.3 million through his business Sama Limo. One instance cited is billing about $283,000 for 64 rides for a beneficiary—approximately $165,000 of which occurred after the beneficiary’s death—with none matching medical appointments in Colorado. In other cases, Yassin allegedly submitted hundreds of thousands in claims for rides beneficiaries say never happened. Funds from this scheme were reportedly spent on items including a home, furnishings, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and cosmetic surgery.
“Colorado Medicaid is a federal health care program that is funded through taxpayer dollars that are distributed by the state,” according to the United States Attorney’s Office press release. “Colorado Medicaid provides Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) to qualified Medicaid beneficiaries who do not have access to transportation when transportation is required to obtain medically necessary non-emergency services.”
The indictments note that both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with support 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 funding—75%—from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant totaling over $4 million for fiscal year 2026; the remaining quarter comes from state funds.
“Case Numbers: Stevens – 25-CR-0344-PAB; Yassin – 26-CR-34-PAB”
