According to an indictment that was brought into a Manhattan federal court, 18 former professional basketball players have been charged with defrauding the NBA’s health and welfare benefit plan out of approximately $4 million.
The defendants are as follows:
- Terrence Williams
- Alan Anderson
- Anthony Allen
- Desiree Allen
- Shannon Brown
- William Bynum
- Ronald Glen “Big Baby” Davis
- Christopher Douglas-Roberts
- Melvin Ely
- Jamario Moon
- Darius Miles
- Milton Palacio
- Ruben Patterson
- Eddie Robinson
- Gregory Smith
- Sebastian Telfair
- Charles Watson Jr.
- Antoine Wright
- Anthony Wroten
It is uncertain at this time if all 18 former players charged have been arrested.
Those involved in the scheme defrauded the NBA’s healthcare plan by submitting false medical and dental claims in order to get reimbursed. The ex-players received roughly $2.5 million of the $3.9 million in false claims that they submitted, according to the Associated Press.
At the time of this article’s publishing, it is believed the scheme was carried out from 2017-2020.
According to NBC New York, Terrence Williams, who spent four years in the NBA with the Nets, Celtics, Rockets, and Kings is believed to be the leader of the scheme. He’s accused of receiving at least $230,000 in kickback payments.
Each of the 18 former players that have been charged faces a count of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud.
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