Former NBA player Terrence Williams has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a fraud scheme that included at least 19 players. The scheme involved submitting false medical expenses to the NBA health plan to obtain millions of dollars in illegal proceeds.
Williams, a 36-year-old father of six, played for the New Jersey Nets and three other teams between 2009 and 2013. Last August, he pleaded guilty to charges of healthcare and telecommunications fraud conspiracy, as well as aggravated identity theft.
According to his plea agreement, U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni ordered Williams to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the NBA Player Health and Welfare Benefit Plan and forfeit $653,673.
Williams' lawyer has not commented on the matter. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 10 to 12 years, while Williams hoped for a sentence of no longer than 50 months.
The charges allege that Williams recruited players to submit fraudulent invoices in exchange for kickbacks of at least $300,000. He was also accused of impersonating a health plan manager to question reimbursement claims, intimidating players who did not pay him kickbacks into cooperating with him again.
Prosecutors stated that Williams submitted at least $5 million in false claims, of which $2.5 million was unlawfully obtained.
One suspicious aspect of the case was that former Boston Celtics player Tony Allen and another player allegedly received crown treatment for the same six teeth on the same day.
Prosecutors pointed out that, as the leader of the fraud scheme, Williams expedited the entire conspiracy.
According to court records, over half of the 24 individuals involved in the case have pleaded guilty, including a dentist, a doctor, and a chiropractor.
Allen, a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, was sentenced for his involvement in the fraud charges. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of less than 21 months for him, citing his acceptance of responsibility and desire to make amends.
Williams' health insurance fraud reportedly began in 2017 and continued until 2021, during which he bilked $5 million from the NBA Player Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.
Williams enlisted the help of a dentist and several doctors to submit fictitious medical and dental expense claims.
Judge Valerie E. Caproni expressed strong condemnation of Williams' actions, highlighting that, as a professional basketball player, he had earned a significant income, which he ultimately squandered away. Despite having ample financial resources to lead a contented life, Williams failed to do so.
Williams confessed to participating in a healthcare and telecommunications fraud conspiracy, as well as aggravated identity theft, making him the 13th ex-NBA player to plead guilty in a far-reaching healthcare fraud investigation. Additionally, five other former NBA players are currently facing charges in relation to the same case.
The court mandated that Williams surrender a sum exceeding $650,000 as forfeiture and make a restitution payment of $2.5 million.
Selected 11th overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2009 draft, Terrence Williams showcased his exceptional talents honed during a remarkable college career at the University of Louisville. His professional journey saw him donning the jerseys of the Nets, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and Boston Celtics. Throughout his time in the NBA, Williams accumulated an impressive total of 153 appearances, maintaining a solid performance with averages of 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, coupled with a shooting percentage of 41.2%.
This particular case has brought to light certain fraudulent activities within the professional sports sector, emphasizing the need for sports organizations to enhance their internal monitoring and fraud prevention measures. The sentencing of Williams by the court serves as a deterrent, ultimately aiming to promote fairness and transparency within the sports industry.