Fugitive in alleged $3.7 billion Medicare scheme captured, returned to US: FBI

Key Points:

• Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi, accused of masterminding a $3.7 billion Medicare fraud scheme, was captured in Turkey and extradited to the U.S. to face charges, marking one of the largest Medicare fraud cases in U.S. history.
• Hilmi fled the U.S. in May 2025, but was apprehended with the cooperation of Turkish authorities, the FBI Miami office, and the Department of Justice through a foreign transfer of custody operation.
• FBI Director Kash Patel praised the operation as a significant victory in combating fraud against taxpayer-funded healthcare programs, emphasizing that fugitives will be pursued regardless of their location.
• This arrest follows the recent extradition of Herbert Kimble, another alleged Medicare fraud fugitive involved in a $1.3 billion scheme, bringing the total alleged fraud in these cases to approximately $5 billion.
• The FBI credited U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack for his critical role in facilitating Hilmi’s capture, highlighting the collaborative international effort behind the operation.