NEW YORK − 18 former NBA players have been charged with allegedly defrauding the league’s health insurance scheme of almost US$4 million (RM16.72 mil), New York prosecutors said yesterday.
The prosecutors accuse Terrence Williams, who played for the New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets, of orchestrating the fraud, in which, they say, he received kickbacks totalling US$230,000 (RM961,400)
Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who was part of the Boston Celtics side that won the 2008 NBA Championship, and Tony Allen − a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team member − were also charged in the scheme that allegedly ran from at least 2017 to last year.
According to the indictment, the accused defrauded the NBA player’s health and welfare benefit plan by submitting false reimbursement claims for medical and dental services that had not been carried out.
Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York (SDNY) say Terrence recruited other players to the scheme by offering to give them fake invoices to support their fraudulent claims.
He “was the scheme's linchpin”, lead prosecutor, Audrey Strauss, told reporters, adding that he tried to intimidate a player, who didn’t pay him a kickback, by impersonating an employee from the insurance plan.
The indictment alleges that the accused submitted false claims totalling US$3.9 mil (RM16.3 mil) and that the players received about US$2.5 mil (RM10.45 mil) in fraudulent payouts.
Audrey said that, in some instances, the co-conspirators had submitted false claims for the same root canal treatment on the same teeth on the same day.
The players were all charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Terrence was also charged with aggravated identity theft.
Other players charged include, former Los Angeles Lakers guard, Shannon Brown, Sebastian Telfair − who played for several NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers − and ex-Los Angeles Clippers pick, Darius Miles.
Tony’s wife was also charged. 15 of the 19 accused were arrested yesterday around the country with Tony, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Gregory Smith and Eddie Robinson still at large, the SDNY said. – AFP, October 8, 2021
