Terrence Williams gets 10 years in prison for defrauding NBA's benefit plan

[Roy H.]

A federal judge sentenced a former first-round NBA draft pick to 10 years in prison Thursday, saying he used his people skills to entice others to aid his $5 million health care fraud after he “frittered away” substantial earnings from his professional career.

Terrence Williams, 36, of Seattle, was also ordered to forfeit more than $650,000 and to pay $2.5 million in restitution for ripping off the NBA's Health and Welfare Benefit Plan between 2017 and 2021 with the help of a dentist in California and doctors in California and Washington state. Profits were generated by claims for fictitious medical and dental expenses.

Prosecutors said fraudulent invoices created by the medical professionals were processed by other people whom Williams recruited to defraud the plan, which provides health benefits to eligible active and former NBA players and their families.

“You were yet another player who frittered away substantial earnings from the period of time when you were playing basketball professionally,” Judge Valerie E. Caproni told him. “You should have had enough money to be set for life, but you don't.”

Williams was picked No. 11 in the 2009 draft by what was then the New Jersey Nets. Before his career ended in 2013, he played for the Nets, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.

Williams had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a case that resulted in criminal charges against 18 former NBA players. So far, 13 have pleaded guilty to charges. Of those who have been sentenced, many have received “time served” or probation, meaning they didn't have to go to prison. At least 10 of the ex-players paid kickbacks totaling about $230,000 to Williams, authorities said.

For the most part, the ex-players charged had journeyman careers playing for several different teams and never reached anywhere close to the enormous stardom or salary that top players command.

Still, the 18 players made a combined $343 million during their on-court NBA careers, not counting outside income, endorsements or what any may have made playing overseas.

If I recall, a couple of other Celtics were tied up in this.  Big Baby, and maybe Keyon Dooling?

[gouki88]

Man, I thought he was going to be rock solid one day with his athleticism. What a downfall!

Was Tony Allen involved too?

[Who]

Good. That is a disgrace.

[Roy H.]

Good. That is a disgrace.

I'm curious what justifies the split, where some guys get no jail time and Williams gets a decade.  I guess they're after the lead guy, but none of this would have happened without plenty of willing participants.

[RPGenerate]

Good riddance, scumbag. Also an idiot as well.

[Ed Monix]

Former Celtics guard and 2008 NBA Finals champion Tony Allen won’t see any time behind bars despite partaking in an insurance fraud scheme that scammed the league out of nearly $5 million.

Allen, who last played in 2018 and collected over $40 million in career earnings from the NBA, participated in a plan to collect fraudulent health benefits from the league. Fellow ex-Celtic Terrence Williams — the alleged mastermind behind it all — drew the short end of the stick after being sentenced to 10 years. Allen and Williams, however, were just two of 18 other fellow former NBA players-turner-scammers.

Charged alongside the 18 others back in 2021, Allen, after initially facing jail time, was instead sentenced to community service and supervision.

“I fully acknowledge my individual responsibility and I understand the gravity of my actions,” Allen said during his sentence hearing, according to Jonah Dylan of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “As a member of the NBA community, I failed to uphold our core values.”

Allen illegally accepted $265,000 for chiropractic services plus another $155,000 for dental services, both of which he’s since paid back, per Pete Brush of Law360.

NESN

[SparzWizard]

Even tho T.Will didn't partake much with the Celtics (2013 season), he sure lured a bunch of former Celtics in his scheme. Paints a bad image for the organization. Tony Allen, Big Baby, AND Keyon Dooling? Wow

[Celtics2021]

Even tho T.Will didn't partake much with the Celtics (2013 season), he sure lured a bunch of former Celtics in his scheme. Paints a bad image for the organization. Tony Allen, Big Baby, AND Keyon Dooling? Wow

Sebastian Telfair and Milt Palacio we’re also involved, for some older names.

[gouki88]

Even tho T.Will didn't partake much with the Celtics (2013 season), he sure lured a bunch of former Celtics in his scheme. Paints a bad image for the organization. Tony Allen, Big Baby, AND Keyon Dooling? Wow

Sebastian Telfair and Milt Palacio we’re also involved, for some older names.

Milt Palacio is a throwback. One of the worst players to ever last that long

[jambr380]

Good. That is a disgrace.

I'm curious what justifies the split, where some guys get no jail time and Williams gets a decade.  I guess they're after the lead guy, but none of this would have happened without plenty of willing participants.

I don't necessarily disagree with Williams' sentence (I just don't know enough about what actually happened to form a proper opinion), but it's not like these other guys didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Seems they got off pretty easy.

[Roy H.]

Good. That is a disgrace.

I'm curious what justifies the split, where some guys get no jail time and Williams gets a decade.  I guess they're after the lead guy, but none of this would have happened without plenty of willing participants.

I don't necessarily disagree with Williams' sentence (I just don't know enough about what actually happened to form a proper opinion), but it's not like these other guys didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Seems they got off pretty easy.

Yeah.  In the case of Allen, cited above, he stole $400k.  He gets community service for that.  The punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime.

[Who]

Good. That is a disgrace.

I'm curious what justifies the split, where some guys get no jail time and Williams gets a decade.  I guess they're after the lead guy, but none of this would have happened without plenty of willing participants.

I don't necessarily disagree with Williams' sentence (I just don't know enough about what actually happened to form a proper opinion), but it's not like these other guys didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Seems they got off pretty easy.

Yeah.  In the case of Allen, cited above, he stole $400k.  He gets community service for that.  The punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime.

That is ridiculous. Talk about preferential treatment.

[Vermont Green]

At least 10 of the ex-players paid kickbacks totaling about $230,000 to Williams, authorities said.

I am guessing maybe this is the reason he got the really tough sentence?  If he was taking money from other players, it kind of makes more of a guilty party.  Doesn't seem like this would explain 10 years vs. 0 years though.

[SHAQATTACK]

Good. That is a disgrace.

I'm curious what justifies the split, where some guys get no jail time and Williams gets a decade.  I guess they're after the lead guy, but none of this would have happened without plenty of willing participants.

Depends on Judge doing the sentencing opinion?

[Kernewek]

Good. That is a disgrace.

I'm curious what justifies the split, where some guys get no jail time and Williams gets a decade.  I guess they're after the lead guy, but none of this would have happened without plenty of willing participants.

I don't necessarily disagree with Williams' sentence (I just don't know enough about what actually happened to form a proper opinion), but it's not like these other guys didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Seems they got off pretty easy.

Yeah.  In the case of Allen, cited above, he stole $400k.  He gets community service for that.  The punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime.

It also says TA paid back the funds, which may have had an impact?