FBI Launches “Most Wanted Fraudsters” List as First Fugitive Already Captured
There’s a new most wanted list– this time for people accused of defrauding the American people.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) just launched the Most Wanted Fraudsters list to publicly identify individuals charged with defrauding the American people. The FBI said the initiative was created as part of the administration’s broader effort to target fraud.
“Led by Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we set up the historic, first ever 'Most Wanted Fraudsters' list for this exact purpose — to bring to justice the alleged worst of the worst who took advantage of American taxpayers and stole public funds," said FBI Director Kash Patel.
First Arrest Off List
Already one of the fugitives on the list– Said Abdullah Ereg– was taken into custody in Minneapolis after arriving back in the U.S from Africa. Officials say Ereg communicated through counsel his desire to return to the U.S. one day after being featured on the list.
“Ereg was one of eight fugitives added to the FBI’s newly announced fraud list just six days ago and is the first to be taken into custody to face charges for his alleged actions,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson.
Ereg – who owned a grocery store and deli in Minnesota– is accused of taking more than $4.2 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program payments during the pandemic meant to serve hungry children. His arrest is part of the broader Feeding Our Future scheme, which bilked the federal government out of hundreds of millions.
Other fugitives on the list include:
Herbert "Herb" Kimble: He is wanted for allegedly bilking Medicare out of $1.2 billion through the improper marketing and distribution of durable medical equipment (DME), particularly orthopedic braces.
Christopher W. Burns: He is a former investment adviser who’s wanted for allegedly defrauding investors out of $10 million in a mail fraud scheme.
Elaine Angene Escoe: She is wanted for her role in a scheme that bilked the federal government out of $32 million in Covid-19 relief funds. Prosecutors say she provided false information to obtain the money.
The FBI’s Financial Crimes and Health Care Fraud Units, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General H(HS-OIG), and federal agency partners, work alongside one another to actively pursue Most Wanted Fraudster cases.
