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Herbert Leon Kimble Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy and Failure to Appear

Former fugitive Herbert Leon Kimble pleaded guilty in federal court and faces up to 20 years in prison, according to U.S. Attorney's Office records.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 9:24 a.m. ET
Herbert Leon Kimble, 60, guilty on August 11, 2026, to conspiracy to defraud the United States and failure to appear, according to official records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Kimble after reviewing a report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. According to official records, Kimble was charged in 2019 for his role in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme and previously guilty to conspiring to commit healthcare fraud, violate the anti-kickback statute, and defraud the United States. He failed to appear in federal court on three separate occasions for sentencing in Fall 2024 and fled to the Philippines. On June 4, 2026, the FBI identified Kimble as one of eight people on its Most Wanted Fraudsters List. He was apprehended in the Philippines on June 8, 2026, returned to the United States, and charged with three counts of failing to appear for a status conference and two sentencing hearings. Under the plea agreement, Kimble and the United States stipulated that he faces up to 20 years' imprisonment, with a recommended range between 15 and 20 years, official records show. Kimble also agreed to pay nearly $200 million in restitution, including $9 million at his sentencing. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and IRS Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Usher.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 13:24current

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