According to Fox 5 San Diego, Clinton Portis, former pro bowl running back, along with nine additional NFL alumni have officially been indicted on charges related to defrauding the NFL’s retiree health care plan for over $3 million in a scheme lasting from June 2017 to December 2018.
The indictments name the following NFL alumni as defendants and their charges:
Clinton Portis, former running back for the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos, is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and health care fraud.
Robert McCune, former linebacker with the Washington Redskins, charged with conspiracy, nine counts of wire fraud, and nine counts of health care fraud.
John Eubanks, former cornerback with the Washington Redskins, is charged with conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of health care fraud.
Tamarick Vanover, former wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, is charged with conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of health care fraud.
Ceandris “C.C.” Brown, former safety for the Houston Texans, is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and health care fraud.
James Butler, former safety for the New York Giants and St. Louis Rams, is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and health care fraud.
Fredrick Bennett, former defensive back for the Houston Texans, is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and health care fraud.
Etric Pruitt, former defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, is charged with one count of conspiracy.
Carlos Rogers, former cornerback for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers, is charged with conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of health care fraud.
Correll Buckhalter, former running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, is charged with one count of conspiracy.
Prosecutors indicated that $3.9 million in fraudulent claims were submitted for medical equipment that was never purchased including “hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines designed for a doctor’s office to conduct women’s health exams, and electromagnetic therapy devices for horses,” ranging about $40,000 to $50,000 per claim, with a total of $3.4 million paid. Fraudulent letters of medical necessity, invoices and prescriptions were provided to obtain the payments.
The investigation was led by over 20 FBI field offices in multiple states, and also indicated that multiple defendants received reimbursements from the plan or recruited additional alumni to participate in the scheme for kickbacks. McCune and Buckhalter, “even called the health benefits plan’s phone line and impersonated other players to check on the status of claims.”
Furthermore, additional criminal filings will be filed, “charging Joe Horn, the former New Orleans Saints wide receiver, and Donald “Reche” Caldwell, the former San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots wide receiver, with conspiracy,” according to prosecutors.