Local Businessman Sentenced for Involvement in Pill Mill

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that STEPHEN GUILBAULT, age 44, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty for his role in controlled substances violations and health care fraud.

According to court documents, GUILBAULT pleaded guilty on November 15, 2017 to one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, and dextroamphetamine, and conspiring to commit health care fraud.  GUILBAULT was the former co-owner and operator of Gulf South Physician’s Group in Metairie, Louisiana, along with Shannon Ceasar, M.D. 

Ceasar ran what was, in essence, a “pill mill,” i.e., an operation in which he prescribed controlled substances to drug seekers and drug abusers without a legitimate medical purpose and in exchange for a flat fee.  Ceasar was previously sentenced to 120 months in the Bureau of Prisons for his involvement in this conspiracy.

GUILBAULT, who was not a licensed physician, illegally wrote prescriptions from Ceasar’s prescription pad to himself and others.  GUILBAULT also issued medically unnecessary prescriptions for patients who had insurance coverage through Medicare (Part D) and Medicaid, which caused a loss of $46,670.45 to the government.  GUILBAULT agreed to pay back this amount to the government in restitution.

U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman sentenced GUILBAULT to 24 months imprisonment, followed by a two-year term of supervised release.