Six former NFL players indicted on health care fraud and wire fraud charges

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As part of the scheme, the defendants allegedly produced fake invoices, letters of medical necessity, and prescriptions as supporting documentation for the claims.

The superseding indictment alleged, “Over the course of the scheme…, the co-conspirators submitted or caused to be submitted to the Plan false and fraudulent claims totaling approximately $2.8 million.” Each of the defendants “profited from their participation in the scheme” by receiving reimbursements from the plan or receiving bribes and kickbacks paid by participants in exchange for helping them submit fraudulent claims to the Plan.

According to the Justice Department, seven of the defendants in the initial charges filed last year already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The former NFL players who pleaded guilty include Correll Buckhalter, James Butler, Joseph Horn, Etric Pruitt, Ceandris Brown, John Eubanks, and Donald “Reche” Caldwell, who died in June.

On June 22, Brown was sentenced to serve 12 months and a day in prison. The sentencing for the remaining defendants is pending.