NBA Health Care Fraud Ringleader Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Reuters, New York, August 3 According to federal prosecutors, a former National Basketball Association player organized a “brazen” scam involving at least 19 other players to trick the league health plan into shelling out millions of dollars for fictitious medical procedures initiating NBA health care fraud. The former player was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday.

Terrence Williams, 36, admitted guilt to conspiring to commit health care and wire fraud, as well as aggravated identity theft, last August. Williams played for the New Jersey Nets and three other teams between 2009 and 2013. He was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan federal court to forfeit $2.5 million in addition to paying restitution to the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan and, in compliance with his plea deal, forfeit $653,673.

Prior to his arrest in October 2021, Williams, a father of six, resided in Seattle, where he was born and raised. Since May 2022, he has been detained in Brooklyn after being accused by the prosecution of threatening a witness via text messages.

Williams’ legal counsel did not reply to requests for comment right away. Williams wanted no more than 50 months in prison, while the prosecution had asked for a 10- to 12-year sentence.

Williams was charged with NBA Health Care Fraud enlisting players in exchange for at least $300,000 in payments to submit phony invoices for medical and dental procedures that were never carried out.

He was also charged with pretending to be a health plan manager and contesting a reimbursement to “frighten” another athlete who hadn’t given him a kickback to reconnect with him.

The offenders received $2.5 million in fraudulent gains, according to the prosecution, which claimed that at least $5 million in bogus claims had been made.

There were situations where bills purportedly proved that Tony Allen, a former Boston Celtics player, and another player had crowns placed on the same six teeth on the same day.

Williams, the plan’s mastermind, “turbocharged the conspiracy,” according to the prosecution.

According to court records, more than half of the 24 people accused in the investigation have admitted guilt. The defendants include a chiropractor, a doctor, and a dentist.

Allen, a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and will be sentenced on August 8. Prosecutors suggested a sentence of imprisonment of less than 21 months, mentioning his acknowledgment of guilt and desire to atone.