On United States An American businessman accused of looting billions of dollars from the Medicare system is back after his arrest in Turkey and a year on the run, the FBI said in a statement.
Ibrahim Khaldoun Hilmi is facing charges that he orchestrated a $3.7 billion fraud scheme against the US health care system.
Medicare is an American health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, and the scheme also includes younger people with disabilities.
Who is Ibrahim Khaldoun Hilmi?
Hilmi is an American businessman based in Delray Beach, Florida.
He ran companies that on paper appeared to be legitimate healthcare providers. But in reality, his network was a front, designed to drain taxpayers’ money.
Among other things, Sunshine Senior Solutions billed Medicare for medical equipment for elderly patients.
What are the charges against him?
Hilmi is charged with fraud for the purpose of stealing an astronomical $3.7 billion in federal funds.
He made purchases through several legitimate US businesses and submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment such as knee braces, wrist braces, trauma pads, catheters and other items.
However, many of the reported patients either did not request the equipment, never received it, or turned out to be non-existent.
For years the network remained in the dark
He filed claims through law-abiding companies, avoiding the red flags that typically trigger Medicare audits.
As federal investigators began to close in on the case, Hilmi had one last card to play.
In May 2025 he fled the US, staying away from US soil and law enforcement.
How was he arrested?
After a year on the run, the Turkish authorities tracked him down and arrested him in Turkey. The FBI’s Critical Incident Response Team conducted an operation, as part of an official process, to transfer a suspect from a foreign country back to US jurisdiction.
For the success of the operation, the FBI of Miami, the Ministry of Justice, the Turkish authorities cooperated as a special mention was made to the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barak, whose diplomatic work is considered to have played a decisive factor in the implementation of the mission.
What’s next
Hilmi will appear in federal court to face fraud charges, with it unclear whether the US can recover the missing money.
Those found guilty will face penalties ranging, depending on their involvement, from fines and civil penalties to years in prison.
The Medicare case is part of “Operation Gold Rush,” a coordinated federal crackdown targeting transnational organized crime networks. As a result, hundreds of defendants face criminal charges and prosecution.
But during Trump’s two terms, more than 70 people convicted of fraud have been pardoned, raising concerns.
Hilmi’s arrest follows the prosecution of Herbert Kimble, who is accused of defrauding $1.3 billion in Medicare fraud.
The two cases represent an estimated $5 billion in deliberate theft of American taxpayers.
