Drug charges against owner worry medical transport clients

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – Some residents in south-central Idaho are concerned about the safety of passengers served by a medical transportation company whose owner has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Steven Estep, owner of the Twin Falls-based Precious Cargo Transportation, was charged earlier this month in 5th District Court after police say they found marijuana in his home.

He faces one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.

He is next scheduled to appear in court Oct. 20.

Estep’s company specializes in non-emergency medical transports and helps move Medicaid recipients.

Sharon Stanovich stopped letting her child, who’s on Medicaid, be driven by Precious Cargo after Estep was charged.

“You would think someone dealing with children on a professional level would have to be under some type of drug testing or something,” Stanovich said.

But federal and state officials said companies transporting Medicaid recipients don’t need to drug test their drivers.

“We don’t have a drug testing requirement for transportation providers,” said Emily Simnitt, spokeswoman for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.