Former National Football League (NFL) running back Clinton Portis has been sentenced to time in federal prison for his role in defrauding a healthcare benefit program created for retired NFL veterans.
Clinton Portis is just one out of a slew of former players who filed false reimbursement claims that came to a whopping $2.9 million.
What Happened?
The Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan was born in 2006 to help retired players pay for medical expenses. Each player could receive up to $350,000.
Court documents reveal that 40-year-old Portis received close to $100,000 after he filed false claims for medical equipment that was never administered to him.
Portis isn’t the only player to plead guilty, fifteen other former players also admitted to being a part of the same scam.
Per the Department of Justice, the alleged “orchestrator of the ring,” Robert McCune pleaded guilty to 13 counts of health care fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
The Consequences
According to Yahoo! Sports, “Portis faced a maximum of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in September.” Now, he has been sentenced to six months in federal prison and six months of home confinement.
He was charged for submitting false claims which totaled $99,624 in benefits over the span of two months, ESPN reports. Portis not only pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, but he has also agreed to repay the full amount.
Other players who have pleaded guilty and are set to serve time include Frederick Bennett, Carlos Rogers, Antwan Odom, Anthony Montgomery, and Darrell Reid.
