⏱ 2 min read
Herbert Leon Kimble, a 60-year-old international fugitive, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and failure to appear in a South Carolina federal court. Kimble was involved in a massive $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme that was uncovered in 2019. He fled to the Philippines after failing to appear in court on three separate occasions, but was apprehended on June 8, 2026, just four days after being added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List.
Kimble’s plea agreement stipulates that he will face a sentence of 15-20 years in prison and pay nearly $200 million in restitution, including $9 million at his sentencing. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services, and is part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
The Department of Justice has been cracking down on healthcare fraud, with the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division in April. This division is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people, and is part of a whole-of-government effort to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
Kimble’s guilty plea is a significant victory in the fight against healthcare fraud, and demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to holding those who commit these crimes accountable. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. will sentence Kimble after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: South Carolina
- Location: SC
- Source: DOJ Press Release
