U.S. costs 18 former NBA gamers with defrauding league’s well being plan

NBA emblem is displayed as individuals move by the NBA Retailer in New York Metropolis, U.S., October 7, 2019.(REUTERS)

NEW YORK – Eighteen former Nationwide Basketball Affiliation gamers have been charged on Thursday with defrauding the league’s well being and welfare profit plan out of $3.9 million by looking for reimbursement for medical and dental work that was by no means carried out.

In response to an indictment filed with the U.S. District Courtroom in Manhattan, gamers obtained $2.5 million in fraudulent proceeds, with 10 paying the alleged ringleader, Terrence Williams, a minimum of $230,000 in kickbacks.

Prosecutors mentioned Williams supplied false invoices in change for the kickbacks and helped receive bogus “letters of medical necessity” for 3 gamers.

“The defendants’ playbook concerned fraud and deception,” U.S. Lawyer in Manhattan Audrey Strauss mentioned at a press convention.

Among the many defendants are Tony Allen, a six-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Crew, and Glen Davis, each of whom received a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

Different defendants embody Sebastian Telfair, a former Brooklyn highschool basketball star, and Milt Palacio, now an assistant coach for the Portland Path Blazers.

Williams performed for the New Jersey Nets and three different groups from 2009 to 2013.

Legal professionals for the defendants couldn’t instantly be recognized.

The Path Blazers mentioned Palacio, who was added to the crew’s teaching employees in early August, was placed on administrative depart pending additional discover.

“The federal investigation is unbiased of the Path Blazers group and we may have no additional remark pending the result of the authorized course of,” the crew mentioned in a press release.

In a press release, the NBA mentioned it can cooperate with prosecutors, calling the accusations “significantly disheartening” given the significance of its profit plans to help gamers’ well being, together with after they retire.

The alleged scheme concerned two dental workplaces and a chiropractic workplace within the Los Angeles space, and a wellness workplace in Washington state.

Prosecutors mentioned some invoices confirmed Allen, Davis and the defendant Tony Wroten receiving crowns on the identical six tooth on the identical day, and Davis receiving crowns on eight tooth in Beverly Hills when he was really in Nevada.

The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit well being care and wire fraud.

Williams was additionally charged with id theft for posing as a plan supervisor questioning a reimbursement to “frighten” Chris Douglas-Roberts, a defendant who had not paid a kickback, into re-engaging with him.

Different defendants embody Alan Anderson, Shannon Brown, Will Bynum, Melvin Ely, Jamario Moon, Darius Miles, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Greg Smith, C.J. Watson and Antoine Wright. Allen’s spouse Desiree can also be a defendant.

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