Two former Houston Texans players have been indicted on charges of defrauding the NFL’s health-care plan.
According to USA TODAY’s Kevin Johnson, former Texans safety C.C. Brown and defensive back Fred Bennett were among 10 former NFL players a federal grand jury charged with defrauding the NFL’s Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan — the retiree health care benefits plan. The other eight players include Clinton Portis, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Robert McCune, James Butler, Correll Buckhalter, Etric Pruitt, and Carlos Rogers.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it will seek charges against former NFL receivers Reche Caldwell and Joe Horn. However, it appears that Horn is cooperating with the feds.
Joe Horn is the ex-Saints player in the NFL medical fraud scheme. He is being charged through a bill of information because he is cooperating with the government.
— CJ Mordock (@CJMordock) December 12, 2019
According to the indictments, nearly $4.0 million in false or fradulent claims were submitted to the plan, and nearly $3.5 million was paid out from June to December of 2018.
“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multimillion-dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses,” Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said in a press conference via Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar. “Today’s indictments underscore that, whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.”
All 10 defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud based on the accusations that they faxed reimbursement forms for such things ranging from muscle timulator pule massagers to CryoSauna tanks. In addition, there are nine separate counts of wire fraud and nine different counts of health care fraud.
Counts 1-10 can be penalized by imprisonment for not more than 20 years, a fire of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and also supervised release for not more than three years.
Counts 11-19 can be penalized by imprisonment for not more than 10 years, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and supervised release for not more than three years.
Allegedly the players fabricated letters from health care providers regarding the use of the medical equipment, concocted fake prescriptions that were allegedly signed by health-care provides, and even created fake invoices for medical equipment as a proof of purchase.
According to the release via CNN, McCune and Buckhalter even called the health benefits phone line impersonating other former players to check the status of the claims.
More indictments could be on the way as several of the players named allegedly reached out to other ex-players to be a part of the scheme with kickbacks up to $10,000.
A money judgement has been weighed against Brown, Bennett, and the other defendants. That means if the equipment in question can’t be located, is in possession of a third party, or has diminished in value, “the Unites States of America shall be entitled to forfeiture of substitute property.”