U.S. seeks information on wanted Filipina Josephine Tinimbang

The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is seeking information concerning Josephine Tinimbang, a Philippine-born defendant listed among its Most Wanted Fugitives in connection with an alleged $45 million Medicare fraud scheme.

The agency’s wanted notice lists charges including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, visa fraud, and money laundering. Tinimbang is also identified by the aliases Josephine Cruz Herrera and Florentina Razon.

Federal prosecutors alleged that three Lincolnwood, Illinois, home health care companies—Donnarich, Josdan, and Pathways paid kickbacks for patient referrals and falsified medical records to obtain Medicare payments for unnecessary or unprovided services. The alleged scheme operated between 2008 and 2014.

According to the inspector general’s notice, Tinimbang was charged in a 33-count indictment in April 2016. The agency says more than $3 million in money and property assets connected to the scheme had been seized.

Prosecutors also accused Tinimbang, her son Richard, and his wife Maribel of using fraud proceeds to purchase stocks, vehicles, real estate, and jewelry.

The broader case included separate forced labor allegations against Richard and Maribel.

Prosecutors alleged that a Filipino woman recruited for a business analyst position was instead put to work as a nanny and housekeeper. The couple allegedly pressured her to surrender her passport and accept a seven-year contract paying $66 a day, with a $25,000 penalty for quitting early.

A June 2021 federal court opinion stated that Josephine had departed for the Philippines before being prosecuted. Her present location is not established by that ruling.

Anyone with information concerning Josephine Tinimbang or the case is urged to contact the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General at 1-800-347-3756. The charges are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.