Houston woman added to FBI Most Wanted list in $100M fraud case

Emylee Thai, a Houston-area laboratory owner accused of orchestrating a nearly $100 million healthcare fraud scheme, has been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list, federal authorities announced Tuesday. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Houston office, Thai participated in a scheme that involved medically unnecessary genetic testing and illegal kickbacks.

Prosecutors allege that beginning in 2019, Thai worked with marketers who referred signed physician orders and patient DNA samples to her laboratory in exchange for a share of Medicare reimbursements.

The tests, which often cost thousands of dollars per patient, were not medically necessary and were frequently not used in patient care, officials said.

Authorities said Thai’s laboratory billed Medicare approximately $142 million and received about $95 million in payments tied to the alleged scheme.

Thai was initially charged on July 11, 2022, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and payment of kickbacks connected to a federal health care program.

After her arrest, Thai was released on bond under strict conditions, including electronic monitoring. Officials said her monitoring device was removed on Dec. 8, 2022, and her last known location was Harry Reid International Airport.

Authorities said Thai failed to maintain contact the following day, prompting a warrant for her arrest. Investigators later determined she fled the United States using a private aircraft and a false identity.

The FBI believes Thai may currently be in Vietnam.

In a separate case, Thai was charged on July 5, 2023, with destruction and alteration of records related to a federal investigation.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to her arrest and is urging anyone with information to contact authorities.

Officials emphasized that charges remain allegations, and Thai is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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