On Tuesday, a former PBA basketball player who played for a short time in the NBA was given a 10-year sentence. This was because he took part in a big scam that cheated the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of $5 million.
A former player, who hasn’t been identified, was part of a group of 24 people involved in the plan. In February, he admitted guilt to conspiring in health care fraud and wire fraud.
As part of the scheme, the former player and his co-conspirators submitted false invoices for medical procedures that never took place. They also impersonated a health plan manager to intimidate a player who hadn’t paid their share.
Apart from going to prison, the former player has been told to pay back $2.5 million to the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.
The case is a reminder of the serious consequences of healthcare fraud. The NBA and its players’ health plan were victims of a multimillion-dollar fraud, and those responsible will be held accountable.
