Federal prosecutors say Kevin Darnell Curry ran a scheme that submitted about $26 million in fraudulent TRICARE claims and resulted in roughly $17 million in payouts. Authorities allege he recruited military beneficiaries with kickbacks, posed as a doctor using forged credentials, and billed for TMS treatments that were not provided or for ineligible patients. Federal agents seized about $200,000 in assets, including $136,022 in cash and a gold‑plated Cybertruck. Curry was convicted on multiple counts and faces sentencing.
Prosecutors Say TRICARE Fraud Funded Gold‑Plated Cybertruck and Casino‑Style Parties
A gold-plated Tesla Cybertruck seized by federal authorities in connection with a $26 million TRICARE fraud scheme.
Federal prosecutors say a multimillion‑dollar fraud scheme involving TRICARE beneficiaries paid for casino‑style parties, luxury hotels and a gold‑plated Tesla Cybertruck — allegedly the result of a scheme run by 64‑year‑old clinic owner Kevin Darnell Curry.
What Prosecutors Allege
Curry owned and operated Acuity TMS of Plano, Acuity TMS of Fort Worth and Emerald Coast TMS of Fort Walton Beach. Authorities say the clinics submitted about $26 million in fraudulent claims to TRICARE, the military health insurer, and that TRICARE paid roughly $17 million.
Prosecutors allege Curry recruited an unspecified number of active‑duty service members, veterans and military family members by offering illegal kickbacks and bribes to receive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Investigators say Curry falsely presented himself as a medical doctor, used forged credentials to persuade beneficiaries to enroll, and billed TRICARE for treatments that were not provided, were misrepresented, or involved patients who did not qualify.
Charges, Conviction and Seized Assets
Curry was convicted on three counts of health care fraud, three counts of offering and paying illegal health care kickbacks, and three counts of conducting monetary transactions in criminally derived property. Federal authorities previously seized roughly $200,000 in assets linked to the case, including $136,022 in cash and the gold‑plated Cybertruck, according to the Justice Department.
About TMS And Eligibility Rules
TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain cells in regions associated with depression. TRICARE covers TMS for some patients with major depressive disorder after other treatments have failed.
To qualify for TRICARE‑covered TMS, patients generally must have tried at least two antidepressants from different drug classes without success and undergone evidence‑based psychotherapy that also failed to adequately treat their depression. Prosecutors allege some of Curry’s patients did not meet those criteria and that his clinics submitted false treatment histories to obtain authorization.
Broader Impact
The alleged scheme converted military beneficiaries into a source of millions in illicit payments, unfolding within a military health system that is simultaneously trying to encourage service members to seek mental health care. The Defense Department’s Psychological Health Center of Excellence estimates roughly 60%–70% of service members who have mental health concerns do not pursue care. The Pentagon cites stigma and worries about career impact — fears of being viewed as weak, treated differently by leadership, or losing unit trust — as key barriers.
Next Steps
It remains unclear how much of the approximately $17 million paid by TRICARE has been recovered. Curry is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces up to 10 years in prison on each count.
Help us improve.
