FBI brings back fugitive accused in $3.7B Medicare fraud scheme after capture in Turkey

A fugitive accused of helping mastermind a $3.7 billion Medicare fraud scheme — one of the largest in U.S. history — is in American custody after authorities tracked him down in Turkey and flew him back to the U.S. to face charges, the FBI announced Monday.

Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi was recently detained by Turkish authorities after he fled the U.S. in May 2025, the FBI said. The FBI's Critical Incident Response Group flew out to Turkey and transported Hilmi to the U.S. on Friday through a foreign transfer of custody operation.

FBI Director Kash Patel hailed the operation as a major victory in the bureau's effort to track down fugitives accused of stealing taxpayer dollars.

"Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi is charged with one of the biggest Medicare scams in history — allegedly orchestrating a massive $3.7 billion scheme to defraud Medicare," Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "He's been on the run since May of 2025 — but we got him."

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Patel credited FBI Miami, the Department of Justice and Turkish authorities with helping secure Hilmi's capture and return to the United States.

The arrest marks the second high-profile return of an alleged Medicare fraud fugitive in less than a week.

On Thursday, the FBI announced it had brought back Herbert Kimble, who investigators say had been on the run since 2024 after allegedly orchestrating a separate Medicare fraud scheme worth approximately $1.3 billion.

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The two cases involve roughly $5 billion in alleged fraud targeting taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.

Patel said Hilmi's return demonstrates that suspects accused of large-scale fraud will be pursued regardless of where they flee.

"This yet another massive win for this FBI’s war on fraudsters with the White House Task Force led by VP Vance," Patel said, "and a monumental victory for the Trump administration, showing that any criminal actor who steals from the American taxpayer will be caught, no matter where they try to hide."

Patel also thanked U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, saying the case against Hilmi was only possible thanks to his "invaluable" and "tireless work."