New Jersey Nets guard Terrence Williams (left), seen throughout a 2010 sport in Orlando, Fla., is amongst 18 former NBA gamers charged with defrauding the league’s well being and welfare profit plan out of about $4 million.
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
disguise caption
toggle caption
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
New Jersey Nets guard Terrence Williams (left), seen throughout a 2010 sport in Orlando, Fla., is amongst 18 former NBA gamers charged with defrauding the league’s well being and welfare profit plan out of about $4 million.
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
NEW YORK — Eighteen former NBA gamers have been charged with defrauding the league’s well being and welfare profit plan out of about $4 million, in line with an indictment Thursday in New York.
Federal prosecutors deliberate a information convention to explain the case that was introduced in Manhattan federal courtroom. By late morning, 16 of the defendants have been in custody, authorities mentioned.
In line with the indictment, the ex-players engaged in a widespread scheme to defraud the plan by submitting false and fraudulent claims to get reimbursed for medical and dental bills that have been by no means truly incurred.
The 18 gamers have been amongst 19 people charged within the indictment. It mentioned that the scheme was carried out from not less than 2017 to 2020, when the plan acquired false claims totaling about $3.9 million. Of that, the defendants acquired about $2.5 million in fraudulent proceeds.
A request for remark to the league wasn’t instantly returned.
In line with the indictment, the scheme developed after Terrence Williams — who started his profession as a first-round NBA draft decide in 2009 — submitted $19,000 in fraudulent claims to the plan in November 2017 for chiropractic care. The claims led to a $7,672 payout for Williams.
The indictment mentioned he then recruited different former NBA gamers to defraud the plan and supplied to supply fraudulent invoices from a chiropractor and dentist in Southern California and a wellness workplace in Washington state.
At the least 10 of the ex-players paid kickbacks totaling about $230,000 to Williams, in line with the courtroom papers. A lawyer who has represented Williams up to now declined to remark.
What was then the New Jersey Nets picked Williams as No. 11 within the 2009 draft. He went on to play with 4 franchises — the Nets, Boston, Houston and Sacramento — over 4 seasons as a task participant, averaging 7.1 factors per sport. He was waived by Boston two days after his twenty sixth birthday in 2013 and hasn’t appeared within the league since.
Amongst others charged was Tony Allen, a six-time All-Defensive staff choice and a member of the 2008 champion Boston Celtics. His spouse was additionally indicted. For probably the most half, although, the ex-players charged had journeyman careers enjoying for a number of completely different groups and by no means reached anyplace near the big stardom or wage that high gamers command.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Sebastian Telfair (left), seen enjoying in 2014 towards the New York Nets, is among the many former NBA gamers which have been charged in an alleged fraud scheme.
John Minchillo/AP
disguise caption
toggle caption
John Minchillo/AP
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Sebastian Telfair (left), seen enjoying in 2014 towards the New York Nets, is among the many former NBA gamers which have been charged in an alleged fraud scheme.
John Minchillo/AP
One other former participant charged within the scheme was Sebastian Telfair, a one-time highschool star in New York who was extremely touted when he turned professional, although his NBA profession with eight franchises by no means introduced the stardom some had anticipated.
These charged additionally included 4 NBA champions. Glen “Huge Child” Davis, together with Allen, was a part of that 2008 title staff in Boston. Shannon Brown received two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Melvin Ely received a title with San Antonio in 2007.
Amongst others who have been charged, Anthony Wroten, Ruben Patterson and Darius Miles have been the one gamers who averaged double figures for his or her NBA profession.
Wroten averaged 11.1 factors in 145 profession video games. Patterson averaged 10.7 factors per sport with six completely different groups. Miles, the No. 3 decide within the 2000 draft, averaged 10.1 factors per sport and performed with 4 completely different franchises.