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Terrence Williams, 36, who played for the New
Jersey Nets and three other teams from 2009 to 2013, had pleaded
guilty last August to conspiracy to commit health care and wire
fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan federal court
also sentenced him to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the NBA
Players' Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, and forfeit $653,673,
in accordance with his plea agreement.
Williams, a father of six, was born and raised in Seattle, and
lived there before his October 2021 arrest.
He has been jailed in Brooklyn since May 2022, after prosecutors
said he threatened a witness through text messages.
Lawyers for Williams did not immediately respond to requests for
comment. Prosecutors had sought a 10- to 12-year prison term,
while Williams sought no more than 50 months.
Williams was accused of recruiting players to submit false
invoices for medical and dental work that was never performed,
in exchange for at least $300,000 of kickbacks.
He was also accused of impersonating a health plan manager who
questioned a reimbursement in order to "frighten" another
player, who had not paid a kickback, into re-engaging with him.
Prosecutors said at least $5 million of false claims were
submitted, with the defendants receiving $2.5 million in
fraudulent proceeds.
Questionable cases included invoices that allegedly showed
former Boston Celtics player Tony Allen and another player
receiving crowns on the same six teeth on the same day.
As the scheme's leader, Williams "turbocharged the conspiracy,"
prosecutors said.
More than half of the 24 people charged in the probe have
pleaded guilty court records show. A dentist, a doctor and a
chiropractor are among the defendants.
Allen, a six-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team, faces an
Aug. 8 sentencing after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge.
Prosecutors recommended a prison term shorter than 21 months,
citing his acceptance of responsibility and desire to make
amends.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Diane
Craft)
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