New York (AFP)
Eighteen former NBA players, including 2008 champion Tony Allen, were indicted on Thursday for defrauding the American Professional Basketball League's health insurance system for millions of dollars, federal prosecutors said Thursday. of Manhattan.
According to the indictment, the system, in place from 2017 to 2020, consisted of making false declarations to receive reimbursements for care to which they were not entitled.
The players are accused of submitting claims for reimbursements for bogus medical and dental treatment, totaling $ 3.9 million, and collecting around $ 2.5 million in fraudulent payments.
The FBI participated in the investigation.
Federal prosecutors accuse Terrence Williams, a former player of the New Jersey Nets (which has since become the Brooklyn Nets) and the Houston Rockets, of orchestrating the fraud and of having received $ 230,000 in undue sums.
"It was the linchpin of the system," prosecutor Audrey Strauss told reporters.
The vast majority of those charged are former secondary players, but among them are Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Tony Allen, one of the best defensemen in the NBA at the time, both champions in 2008 with the Boston Celtics and finalists in 2010. According to prosecutors' statement, Allen could not be arrested and was on the run Thursday, as were two other former players, but his wife was arrested and charged.
Among 19 indicted in total, 15 were arrested on American soil Thursday and were due to be brought to justice in different states.
Shannon Brown, a former Los Angeles Lakers full-back, and Sebastian Telfair, who had played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, are also on the list.
The players have all been charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and electronic fraud.
Williams was also charged with aggravated identity theft.
© 2021 AFP