18 Ex-NBA Players Charged in $4 Million Insurance Fraud Scam

Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty

Federal investigators have accused 18 former professional basketball players of participating in a multi-million dollar scheme that sought to defraud the National Basketball Association’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York alleges that former New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets shooting guard Terrence Williams, 34, masterminded the nearly $4 million scheme and has been apprehended in Washington state.

Williams is charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Seventeen other former NBA players and one of their spouses face the same charges.

Investigators allege the scheme’s participants filed close to $4 million in false medical insurance claims. Williams allegedly provided his co-defendants will the fabricated medical invoices needed to make the illicit medical, chiropractic, and dental claims.

Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the indictment during a press conference Thursday.

Just under $2.5 million in claims were paid out, according to the indictment, which further alleges Williams received nearly $230,000 in kickbacks from the other defendants.

Also indicted this week were former Boston Celtics player Anthony Allen, 39, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown, 35, and Ronald Glen Davis, 39, who played for the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers over the course of his career.

Tony Wroten, 28, a former Philadelphia 76er, was also named in the indictment, as was Ruben Patterson, 46, a onetime Milwaukee Buck.

Others named in the indictment include Alan Anderson, 38, who played with the Nets, the Washington Wizards, and the Toronto Raptors; William Bynum, 38, a former member of the Detroit Pistons; Melvin Ely, 43, a former Clipper; Jamario Moon, 41, who played for the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Bobcats; and ex-Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz guard Milt Palacio, 43.

Center Greg Smith, 30, a former member of the Dallas Mavericks and the Rockets, is also named in the indictment, as is Antoine Wright, 37, a former Sacramento King; C.J. Watson, 37, who spent nearly 10 years in the NBA, playing for the Chicago Bulls, the Indiana Pacers, and the Golden State Warriors; Chris Douglas Roberts, 34, a former Bobcat, Net, and Clipper; and onetime Bull Chris Douglas Roberts, 45.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Allen’s wife, Desiree Allen, is the only woman charged in the indictment, and the only defendant who didn’t play in the NBA.

Fifteen of the defendants are currently in FBI custody, officials said. Anthony Allen, Douglas-Roberts, Smith, and Robinson have not been detained yet.

PEOPLE was unable to obtain a copy of the indictment as of press time.

It was unclear if any of the 19 defendants had entered pleas, or had legal representation who could comment on their behalf.

source: people.com