The leader accused of NBA health care fraud has pleaded guilty

New Jersey Nets’ Terrence Williams (R) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets’ Brad Miller during the NBA China Games series at the Guangzhou International Sports Arena on October 16, 2010 in Guangzhou. REUTERS/Joe Tan/

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2010 (FBC) The ringleader accused of defrauding the league’s health plan involving at least 19 former National Basketball Association players pleaded guilty Friday.

Terrence Williams, who played for the New Jersey Nets and three teams from 2009 to 2013, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and identity theft charges before U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan.

The 35-year-old Seattle resident agreed to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the NBA plan and $653,673 to the United States.

Attorneys for Williams did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Prosecutors said Williams recruited players to submit false invoices for medical and dental treatment that never took place, and recovered at least $300,000.

Examples include receipts showing former Boston Celtics players Tony Allen and Glenn Davis getting crowns on the same six teeth, and receipts showing Davis getting crowns on eight teeth in Beverly Hills, though in Nevada.

Williams is accused of impersonating others, including a health plan manager, in order to “intimidate” a player who failed to pay kickbacks. Read more

Prosecutors say at least $5 million in false claims were made, and the defendants received $2.5 million in counterfeit money.

At least 24 people, including a dentist, doctor and chiropractor, have pleaded guilty to six charges. Allen and Davis have pleaded not guilty.

At sentencing scheduled for Jan. 25, 2023, Williams faces 10 to 12 years in prison, with a mandatory two years for identity theft.

He was jailed in May, after prosecutors said he threatened a witness with text messages.

Defendants who pleaded guilty include former players Chris Douglas-Roberts, Jamario Moon, Eddie Robinson and Anthony Wroughton, as well as Los Angeles chiropractor Patrick Kaziran, known as “Dr. Pat.”

Douglas-Roberts is the player Williams allegedly tried to “intimidate”.

(This story has been corrected in the ninth paragraph to show that six people pleaded guilty in the case, not five)

Reporting by Jonathan Stemple in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler

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