BATON ROUGE — Three people pleaded guilty in federal court to accusations of conspiracy to commit health care fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are accused of a scheme where they used the identities of medical professionals to get controlled substance prescriptions, in addition to receiving money from federal pandemic assistance programs through fraudulent applications.
Kevan Andre Hills (31), Devin Tyrone Stampley, Jr. (33), and Asia Deshan Guess (28), all of Baton Rouge, admitted to using stolen identities to submit prescriptions such as Promethazine with codeine and hydrocodone, to Medicaid to resell the prescriptions.
They used several doctors’ DEA registration numbers and other identification information without permission to submit the prescriptions, the U.S. Department of Justice reported.
Hills and Stampley submitted and helped others submit applications for federal funds from multiple pandemic-era relief programs, seeking at least $293,498 in funds. In addition, they submitted falsified bank statements, tax forms, and other documents for these applications.
By pretending to be owners of small businesses, they were able to defraud these federal pandemic assistance programs of at least $87,663
Stampley reportedly burglarized a pharmacy, as well.
Guess illegally applied for at least $125,978 in federal funds, including federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits under the CARES Act for eligible workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guess also submitted claims and applications for unemployment assistance from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the Maine Department of Labor, and other U.S. workforce agencies.
Guess was able to fraudulently obtain nearly $16,000 in unemployment benefits from these agencies.
Hills, Stampley, and Guess pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition, Hills and Stampley pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; Stampley pleaded guilty to one count of burglary of a pharmacy; and Guess pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds.
A federal district court judge will determine their sentences. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years, while conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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