Terrence Williams sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding the NBA's health care plan
Former New Jersey Nets player Terrence Williams was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for masterminding a scheme to steal $5 million from the National Basketball Association’s health care plan. Williams, 36, admitted in August 2022 to orchestrating the conspiracy, in which he roped in 18 former ballers to defraud the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan that provides extra coverage to former and retired players. In addition to the hefty prison time handed down by Manhattan federal Judge Valerie Caproni, the former Nets shooting guard must also pay more than $3.1 million in restitution and forfeitures.
Source: Priscilla DeGregory @ New York Post
Source: Priscilla DeGregory @ New York Post
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Ex-#Nets player Terrence Williams sentenced to 10 years in prison for $5M health care fraud against #NBA nypost.com/2023/08/03/ex-… via @nypost – 4:31 PM
Ex-#Nets player Terrence Williams sentenced to 10 years in prison for $5M health care fraud against #NBA nypost.com/2023/08/03/ex-… via @nypost – 4:31 PM
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Before the sentence was announced, Williams choked up repeatedly as he blamed his crime on “stupidity and greed” and said he regretted that his incarceration will keep him from his six children, two of whom are now adults. “I one million percent take full accountability for my role in this case,” he said. -via Associated Press / August 3, 2023
He added that he came to court “humble and humiliated” as he blamed his turn toward crime in part on an opioid addiction that developed after he took painkillers to cope with the pain of lingering injuries from his professional career. The judge, though, said it appeared that he used his big personality to lure friends and others to join him in a scheme to steal money because he didn’t want to seek legitimate employment. She said his behavior was “extortionate, aggressive.” And his motivation, she added, “was greed.” “You think first and foremost about yourself and not others,” Caproni said. -via Associated Press / August 3, 2023
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the defendant who played for Louisville in college recruited medical professionals and others to carry out a criminal conspiracy and maximize illegal profits. “Williams not only lined his pockets through fraud and deceit, but he also stole the identities of others and threatened a witness to further his criminal endeavors. For his brazen criminal acts, Williams now faces years in prison.” Williams has been incarcerated since May 2022, when prosecutors alleged that he sent threatening phone texts to a witness in the case. -via Associated Press / August 3, 2023