International Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy and Failure to Appear

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Herbert Leon Kimble, 60, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and failure to appear.

In 2019, Kimble was charged for his role in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme. Kimble previously plead guilty to conspiring to commit healthcare fraud, violate the anti-kickback statute, and defraud the United States. Kimble was scheduled to be sentenced in Fall 2024, but he failed to appear in federal court on three separate occasions. He fled to the Philippines and remained a fugitive.

On June 4, 2026, the FBI announced the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List and identified Kimble as one of FBI's eight most wanted fraudsters. On June 8-just four days later-Kimble was apprehended in the Philippines and sent back to the United States. Shortly thereafter, he was charged with three counts of failing to appear for a statute conference and two sentencing hearings, as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

As part of the plea agreement, Kimble and the United States stipulate that the Court should impose a sentence between 15 and 20 years' imprisonment. Kimble has further agreed to pay nearly $200 million in restitution, including $9 million at his sentencing. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Kimble after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Usher is prosecuting the case.

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