Former NBA Player Pleads Guilty in Fraud Case

Former NBA player and ringleader of association’s health plan’s scheme, Williams, pleads guilty in fraud case

Terrence Williams, a former NBA player, entered a guilty plea on Friday to charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and health care fraud. Williams, an NBA player for four seasons, led a group of 18 players in a plot to swindle the league’s health insurance programme out of more than $5 million.
The indictment claims that the players filed phoney invoices for reimbursement to the NBA health benefit plan.

Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement, said “Williams led a scheme involving more than 18 former NBA players, a dentist, a doctor, and a chiropractor, to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan of millions of dollars. Williams also impersonated others to help him take what was not his — money that belonged to the Plan.”

Williams reportedly set up a second email address in an effort to intimidate a physician who had generated false bills for the former star. In order for the doctor to pay Williams, that account contacted the NBA. According to the authorities, Williams received around $346,000 from the NBA.

Williams has agreed to make a $2.5 million reparation payment as well as a punishment that exceeds $650,000. Williams will be sentenced in January of next year. He might spend up to 20 years behind bars.