A federal judge has sentenced NBA player Glen 'Big Baby' Davis to 40 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme to defraud a health care benefits plan. Davis was convicted of health care fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make false statements, and conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud. These convictions carried a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the prison term, Davis will be under supervised release for three years. As part of his release conditions, he must attend a financial management class and undergo mandatory drug treatment.
More than 20 individuals have faced charges and sentences related to the scheme, which centered around filing inaccurate medical claims with the NBA Players' Health and Benefit Welfare Plan.
Another individual involved in the scheme, who pleaded guilty to piracy and aggravated identity theft, admitted to orchestrating the submission of false claims for medical and dental expenses. This individual led a group of over 18 former NBA players, a dentist, a doctor, and a chiropractor in defrauding the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan of millions of dollars.
The U.S. Attorney involved in the case stated that the individual impersonated others to fraudulently obtain money that belonged to the Plan. As part of the legal proceedings, this individual has agreed to pay restitution of $2.5 million and a fine exceeding $650,000.
Davis, a member of the Boston Celtics' 2008 NBA championship team, has been ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution for his role in the scheme.