Posted on 10/07/2021 9:29:29 AM PDT by billorites
More than a dozen former NBA players have been charged in New York federal court in an alleged multi-million-dollar health insurance fraud scheme to rip off the league's benefit plan, according to an indictment unsealed in the Southern District on Thursday.
The 18 former players named in the indictment include alleged scheme ringleader Terrence Williams, selected 11th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the then-New Jersey Nets, six-time NBA All-Defensive Team member Tony Allen, former Lakers Guard Shannon Brown and Ronald Glen Davis, who played for the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers over the course of his career.
Allen's wife, Desiree Allen, is the only woman charged in the indictment.
Those indicted face charges of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud as well as aggravated identity theft. By late morning, 16 of them were in custody after arrests in a dozen locations nationwide.
According to the grand jury indictment, the defendants allegedly engaged in a widespread scheme from at least 2017 up to around 2020 to defraud the NBA Players' Health and Welfare Benefit Plan by submitting fake reimbursement claims for medical and dental services that were never actually rendered.
In some cases, the players who submitted the alleged false claims weren't even in the United States at the times they allegedly received the treatments. They allegedly filed fake invoices saying they had to pay for the phantom procedures out of pocket.
Those allegedly fraudulent claims totaled about $3.9 million, from which the defendants got about $2.5 million in fraudulent proceeds, the indictment alleges.
Williams allegedly orchestrated the years-long scheme and recruited other NBA health plan participants to assist by offering them fake invoices to support their claims. He allegedly received at least $230,000 in kickback payments from 10 other players in return for
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnewyork.com ...
Whodat?
Fraud—everybody is doing it!
There is a YUGE difference between working for the establishment and being the establishment.
Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but isn’t defrauding your team mates low class?
Two former Celtics (I note, as something of a fan thereof) who made millions through their careers. Big Baby Davis ate himself out of the league, so reduced the size of his realized take. He has subsequently had some brushes with the law, and Tony Allen was known to have had issues before his career. As far as I knew hadn’t got in trouble for a couple of decades.
Good to see the, what, league? Players unions? So on top of this.
In the race to the bottom there is no bottom!
Prejudice prejudice prejudice
I once saw an NBA player’s check. They don’t really need a few million split several ways over a few years. Really stupid of them.
Black crooks matter.
Whoa—5 of the 15 are former Celtics.
Looks like Terrence Williams was the ringleader. (I had completely forgotten about him. Played a couple dozen games for the C’s at age 25 in Doc’s last year as C’s coach in 1-13.) Sebastian Telfair (NBA underperformer) was involved. Also Milt Palacio (old, marginal, backup PG for the C’s) and Allen’s wife.
Chiropractor, dental and “wellness” services involved.)
*’12-13
That assumes wise financial decisions.
Greed and Stupidity. A destructive combination that never goes away.
Role models anyone? Tony Soprano is a better role model for America’s youth than any of these professional sports frauds. I commented to a friend, “what do we call it, when the truth is so far past fiction as to be absurd?” Words fail.
Ok we’re judging them by character and lack thereof.
Imagine if they legally invested just a portion of their huge salaries. Being dumbass and crooks are no ways to have a truly satisfying life.
Waiting for a great many cries of “Racism!” among the 18, in response to being accused...
No wonder they had to commit fraud - they didn’t have the most successful careers.
I totally disagree with that contention. Name another health insurance fraud scheme perpetrated by professional athletes.
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