A federal judge sentenced a former first-round NBA Draft pick to 10 years in prison Thursday, saying he used his charismatic skills to get people to assist with his $5 million health care fraud after he “frittered away” massive earnings.
36-year-old Terrence Williams out of Seattle, Washington is also being forced to forfeit over $650,000, and in restitution, will have to have $2.5 million after scamming the NBA‘s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan between 2017-21. In his plot, Williams was joined by a dentist in California, as well as doctors in both California and Washington. Profits were made by claims of fraudulent medical and dental expenses.
Fake invoices were generated by the medical professionals and then processed by other people who were a part of Williams’ scheme, according to prosecutors. The Health and Welfare Benefit Plan is meant to provide health benefits to both active and former NBA families, as well as their families.
Ex-Nets player Terrence Williams sentenced to 10 years in prison for health care fraud https://t.co/QPK9rB4rSE pic.twitter.com/hra2RS0n59
— New York Post (@nypost) August 3, 2023
“You were yet another player who frittered away substantial earnings from the period of time when you were playing basketball professionally,” said Judge Valerie E. Caproni. “You should have had enough money to be set for life, but you don’t.” (RELATED: Woman Allegedly Assaulted By Jackson Mahomes Closes Restaurant Over Lost Business, Death Threats: REPORT)
In the 2009 NBA Draft, Williams was selected with the No. 11 pick by the New Jersey Nets. Before calling it a career in 2013, he played for each the Nets, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.