Guilty Plea Entered in Louisiana Case Involving Doctor and Nurse Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud

Louisiana – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Debra E. Craig, 66, of Converse, Louisiana, entered a guilty plea on November 1, 2022, before Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to one count of obtaining controlled substances by fraud.

Craig worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse Medical Assistant at the DeSoto Regional Health System in Mansfield, Louisiana, and was assigned to Dr. Jeffrey L. Evans.

Dr. Evans persuaded Craig to unlawfully fill hydrocodone-acetaminophen prescriptions on his behalf by telling her he needed pain medication. Dr. Evans would write prescriptions for Craig in the name of “Debbie Craig” for 100 dosage units of hydrocodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg and provide Craig cash to pay for the prescriptions at Mansfield Drug Company in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana. Craig would give Dr. Evans all of the hydrocodone-acetaminophen after filling the prescriptions. Hydrocodone-acetaminophen is a Schedule II restricted drug. One of the false prescriptions was filled at Mansfield Drug Company on September 18, 2020, and is the foundation for the guilty plea announced today. The prescription was for 100 tablets of hydrocodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Craig faces up to four years in jail, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A sentencing date will be determined at a later date.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the United States Attorney, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Shannon.