by ERIN PARROTT
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A Chicago man once named among the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most wanted fraudsters has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for orchestrating an international Medicare fraud scheme responsible for more than $365 million in fraudulent claims.
Herbert “Herb” Leon Kimble, 60, was sentenced by U.S. district court judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and failure to appear in federal court.
In addition to his 240-month prison sentence, Kimble was ordered to pay more than $199 million in restitution to Medicare and forfeit more than $195 million in money and property obtained through the scheme.
According to federal prosecutors, Kimble played a central role in a nationwide operation involving offshore call centers, fraudulent telemedicine companies and medically unnecessary prescriptions for orthotic braces.
The operation targeted vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries through deceptive advertising, obtaining their personal information and arranging for medical professionals to sign prescriptions for braces they did not need.
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Prosecutors said the medical professionals rarely conducted legitimate consultations, instead approving preselected orders designed to maximize Medicare reimbursements.
The beneficiaries’ information and signed prescriptions were then sold to durable medical equipment (DME) companies in exchange for illegal kickbacks disguised as legitimate business payments.
Operating primarily from the Philippines, Kimble coordinated the acquisition of patient information and prescriptions, supplying them to DME companies that collectively submitted hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicare claims.
Federal investigators determined the scheme generated more than $365 million in fraudulent claims, with Medicare ultimately paying out more than $199 million.
Kimble personally profited more than $195 million, according to prosecutors, using some of the proceeds to purchase a luxury condominium at the Shangri-La hotel in the Philippines.
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FROM GUILTY PLEA TO INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT…
As previously reported by FITSNews, Kimble’s case took an international turn after he failed to appear for multiple federal court proceedings in 2024.
Kimble originally pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to defraud the United States. However, his subsequent failure to appear prompted a federal bench warrant and eventually landed him on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list.
Just days after being added to the list, Kimble was apprehended in the Philippines and returned to the United States to face additional charges.
Federal prosecutors subsequently indicted him on three counts of failure to appear, and Kimble entered a new plea agreement addressing both the original fraud conspiracy and the additional charges.
His sentencing marks the latest development in a case previously covered by FITSNews in August 2026, when federal authorities announced Kimble was expected to plead guilty following an international manhunt.
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“Kimble orchestrated one of the largest international healthcare fraud schemes in our nation’s history,” U.S. attorney Bryan Stirling said. “Today’s sentence underscores the seriousness of his crimes and reinforces the Department of Justice’s commitment to investigate and prosecute those who steal from American taxpayers.”
Assistant attorney general Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) also emphasized the consequences of Kimble’s attempt to evade prosecution.
“Kimble targeted vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries, pocketed millions, and then fled the country rather than face justice,” McDonald said. “Today’s sentence proves that fleeing overseas won’t spare healthcare fraudsters from the reach of the Department of Justice.”
FBI Columbia special agent in charge Anish Shukla described the sentence as a significant step toward holding accountable individuals who exploit federal assistance programs.
“This substantial sentence reflects the full force of justice being brought to bear against an FBI Most Wanted Fraudster,” Shukla said.
Kimble will serve 240 months in federal prison, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHSOIG) and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Usher prosecuted the case.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Erin Parrott is a Greenville, S.C. native who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2025 with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism. Got feedback or a tip for Erin? Email her here.
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1 comment
Got my hopes up, I thought you were talking about Rick Scott. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.