FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau carried out four separate Foreign Transfers of Custody tied to fraud investigations in a span of just over 24 hours, highlighting the cases in an internal weekly update to agency personnel.
Among those returned to the United States was Herbert Leon Kimbel, whom Patel described as the FBI’s latest “Most Wanted Fraudster.” Kimbel, accused of helping orchestrate a $1.2 billion healthcare fraud scheme, was taken into custody in the Philippines as part of one of the foreign transfer cases.
Patel also pointed to another transfer involving a fugitive from Turkey who is facing charges connected to an alleged $3.7 billion Medicare fraud scheme.
“After launching an ambitious campaign to catch the worst fraudsters robbing American taxpayers, we captured our SECOND Most Wanted Fraudster in just over two weeks,” Patel said. “In fact — this case was part of FOUR different Foreign Transfers of Custody on FOUR different continents this FBI executed on fraud cases in just over 24 hours.. out of the Philippines, Turkey, Nigeria, and Spain.”
Referring to Kimbel’s arrest, Patel added: “Our latest Most Wanted Fraudster, Herbert Leon Kimbel, was apprehended in the Philippines and is now back in the U.S. after being on the run since 2024. He allegedly orchestrated a $1.2 billion dollar healthcare fraud scheme — but now he’ll face justice, thanks to this FBI and our partners.”
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The FBI director credited multiple field offices for their role in the operations, praising the bureau’s Miami, Buffalo, Columbia and Houston divisions, as well as partner agencies, for what he called “outstanding work across the board.”
According to Florida’s Voice, the transfers took place on Thursday and Friday and targeted suspects accused in a range of alleged fraud schemes, including healthcare fraud, cyber-enabled bank fraud and advance-fee scams.
The outlet also reported that Abdellah Belmili was transferred from Spanish custody. Belmili is accused of creating and operating illicit online marketplaces that trafficked in stolen access device data between 2020 and 2023.
