Eighteen former NBA players have been charged in connection to a $4 million healthcare fraud scheme.
From 2017 through 2020, a group of more than a dozen players allegedly took advantage of the league's healthcare plan for retired players by submitting fraudulent medical claims and receiving monetary compensation in return. Of the $3.9 million that was distributed, the group of 18 former NBA players allegedly received $2.5 million. Thus far, reports have tied Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Jemario Moon, Sebastian Telfair, Darius Miles, Ruben Patterson, Christopher Douglas-Roberts and several others to the case.
At this time, it is unclear if any of the players that have been charged have also been arrested. ESPN reports that federal prosecutors are expected to hold a press briefing at 12 p.m. ET on October 7 to discuss the matter further.
Unfortunately, this is not the first case of its kind. Last month, former NFL players Tamarick Vanover, Clinton Portis and Robert McCune plead guilty to their involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme. Vanover, Portis, McCune and several other NFL players have been accused of submitting fraudulent medical claims and receiving large payouts from the NFL's medical benefits program for retired players.
"Portis caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to the Plan on his behalf over a two-month period, obtaining $99,264 in benefits for expensive medical equipment that was not actually provided. Vanover recruited three other former NFL players into the fraudulent scheme and assisted them in causing false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to the Plan, obtaining $159,510 for expensive medical equipment that was not actually provided," the Department of Justice stated.
"McCune orchestrated the nationwide fraud, which resulted in approximately $2.9 million in false and fraudulent claims being submitted to the Plan and the Plan paying out approximately $2.5 million on those claims between June 2017 and April 2018."
Ultimately, Portis and Vanover plead guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Meanwhile, McCune plead guilty to wire fraud, identity theft and healthcare fraud. Portis and Vanover face up to 10 years in prison while McCune faces up to 20 years in prison.
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