In a shocking turn of events, former NBA stars Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Will Bynum have been convicted of defrauding the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan out of millions of dollars. The pair joins a growing list of former NBA players who have been caught up in this scandal, which has resulted in millions in losses for the league’s health care plan.
Davis and Bynum were among 18 former NBA players charged with orchestrating a four-year scheme to defraud the league’s health benefit plan out of more than $4 million. According to a 2021 article in The Washington Post, the players submitted false invoices seeking reimbursements for medical and dental services that were never received.
The scheme came to light in 2019 when the NBA began investigating suspicious claims. The investigation led to the charges against Davis, Bynum, and the other former players.
Davis and Bynum were convicted on Wednesday by a New York jury. They face significant prison time and financial penalties.
“Today’s conviction exemplifies that despite notoriety or success in sports or any other field, no one is exempt from criminal charges if they engage in fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in a statement.
The NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan is a trust fund that provides health insurance and other benefits to retired NBA players and their families. The plan is funded by contributions from the NBA and its players.
The fraud scheme has had a significant impact on the plan, which has been forced to pay out millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. The plan has also incurred significant legal costs in its efforts to prosecute the players involved in the scheme.
The NBA is taking steps to prevent future fraud, including加强计划的审核程序。
The conviction of Davis and Bynum sends a strong message to current and former NBA players that fraud will not be tolerated. The NBA is committed to protecting the integrity of its health benefit plan and will continue to take steps to prevent future fraud.