Herbert Leon Kimble, accused of a $1.2 billion Medicare fraud scheme in the U.S., was captured in the Philippines and extradited.
Federal officials announced that the 60-year-old Kimble was arrested in the Philippines, where he had been living as a fugitive for approximately two years.
Prosecutors stated that Kimble operated a healthcare fraud network between 2014 and 2019 that specifically targeted the elderly. The network used call centers to steer patients toward medically unnecessary orthopedic braces.
In 2019, Kimble had pleaded guilty to numerous federal charges in the U.S., including conspiracy to commit fraud, healthcare fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, false claims, and paying kickbacks.
Kimble had initiated a federal manhunt and international pursuit by failing to appear for his sentencing hearing in 2024.
Most Wanted Fraudsters List
Kimble's capture occurred weeks after the Justice Department unveiled its new 'Most Wanted Fraudsters' list, designed to publicly highlight individuals charged in major fraud cases.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on the social media platform X. Patel announced, "This second Most Wanted Fraudster from the FBI list has been captured, thanks to the leadership of Vice President Vance and the White House Fraud Eradication Task Force."
Patel said the FBI will continue to fulfill President Donald Trump's directive to combat fraud and protect taxpayers' money.
Reactions from Vance and Blanche
Vice President J. D. Vance shared a message on X regarding Kimble's arrest. Vance noted that the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters list helped investigators track Kimble down.
Vance said, "Our message is simple." "If you defraud the American people, we will find you and bring you to justice."
Vance added that Kimble targeted the elderly for years and cost taxpayers over a billion dollars.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also reacted to the arrest. Blanche said, "Fleeing the United States does not mean fleeing justice."
Blanche noted that Kimble planned to escape justice by fleeing to the Philippines instead of facing charges for $1.2 billion in Medicare fraud crimes in the U.S., but that plan failed.
