In a surprising twist, the upcoming trial involving two former NBA players, Will Bynum and Glen “Big Baby” Davis, accused of defrauding the league’s health care plan, has taken a dramatic turn as Manhattan federal prosecutors vehemently oppose the potential use of a duress defense.
Duress Defense Rejected
Prosecutors have raised concerns about Bynum and Davis’s plans to argue that they were coerced into participating in the fraudulent scheme. The attorneys for these ex-NBA stars hinted at the possibility that they succumbed to intimidation or pressure from co-conspirators, including the alleged ringleader, Terrence Williams. However, in a memo released on Monday, federal prosecutors categorically denied the legitimacy of such claims.
“The government, however, is aware of no factual basis that would support a duress defense, which requires the defendants to satisfy a high burden before the defense can apply,” the memorandum stated. “Unless and until the defendants offer the requisite factual predicate for a duress defense, they should be precluded from offering evidence or making argument in support of and related to that defense.”
