In a move that’s certain to put further strain on the relationship between players and the league, former Philadelphia Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter is among 10 retired NFL players charged with defrauding the league’s retiree health care benefits plan, according to ESPN.com via indictments.
Buckhalter, 41, along with other former players, allegedly sought reimbursements for expensive equipment that they never purchased. The grievance comes from the players using the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan to obtain these tax-free reimbursements for out-of-pocket medical care expenses.
“As a result of the fraud, more than $3.9 million in phony claims were submitted to the Plan, and the Plan paid out approximately $3.4 million on those claims between mid-2017 and mid-2018,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski, of the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The equipment purchased in the fraudulent claims, included hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses, according to prosecutors.
The refund was typically in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 each, Investigators said using fake invoices from medical supply companies along with forged letters and prescriptions from medical care providers.
The players named in the indictment include:
Clinton Portis
Robert McCune
John Eubanks
Tamarick Vanover
Ceandris “C.C.” Brown
James Butler
Fredrick Bennett
Etric Pruitt
Carlos Rogers
Correll Buckhalter
Additional charges are expected to be filed against former Saints receiver Joe Horn and former NFL receiver Reche Caldwell.
Buckhalter was a fourth-round selection of the Eagles back in 2001 and spent 8 seasons with the team.