Former Nets swingman Terrence Williams has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan for former players, per Priscilla DeGregory of The New York Post.
In 2021, Williams and 17 other ex-NBA pros were charged for an elaborate plot to steal $5MM from the league. Last year, he pled guilty to coordinating the scheme, which required he and his fellow ex-players cumulatively submit at least that amount in phony claims between 2017 and 2021. Williams also earned $346K in kickbacks for setting up the operation, DeGregory notes.
The most notable name on the list of additional players charged was former six-time All-Defensive Team shooting guard Tony Allen, who won a title with the Celtics as a reserve in 2008.
As part of an already established plea agreement, Williams was also ordered to pay $3.1MM in restitution and forfeitures. $2.5MM of that sum will be doled out in restitution to the league’s health care plan, while $650K will be forfeited to the federal government.
“Williams recruited medical professionals and others to expand his criminal conspiracy and maximize his ill-gotten gains,” the case’s prosecutor said, per DeGregory. “Williams not only lined his pockets through fraud and deceit, but he also stole the identities of others and threatened a witness to further his criminal endeavors.”
The then-New Jersey Nets selected Williams with the No. 11 pick in the 2009 draft out of Louisville. He spent just a year-and-a-half with the Nets, and subsequently bounced around during a brief four-season NBA career. Across 153 regular season games with the Nets, Rockets, Kings and Celtics, Williams averaged 7.1 PPG on .412/.317/.659 shooting splits, 3.6 RPG, 2.4 RPG and 0.5 SPG.
In addition to a later stint with the Lakers’ NBAGL affiliate, then called the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the 6’6″ shooting guard/small forward also played for international clubs in China, Turkey, the Dominican Republic, the Philipines, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Israel, and Venezuela.
Nice, now tell us where all the fine money goes.
These guys barley made money. Let’s make a example of them. Money is the most important thing ever
Barely made NBA money in their careers *
So the 6+ million Williams made isn’t a lot of money or the 40+ million Allen made I wish I had that problem
Never mess w insurance companies they will take it to the limit
So, Tony Allen paid back 5.9+ million in part for a scheme that was only gonna net 5 mill split between a dozen guys ?? Apparently one and done isnt enough.
10 years seems harsh for a “plea” deal. Seems violent offenders get out sooner. Maybe there are making an example of him?
Definitely, violent offenders get out sooner with plea deals.
10 years is a lot. That’s Federal time as well, so he is gonna do at least 85% of that sentence I Believe. However, he was the ringleader, who started the scheme, and recruited the doctors and players to get involved. He was even getting paid kickbacks from the players. Once he was in jail, he was sending threatening messages to potential witnesses. He had a lot going on.
So what happens with big baby Davis? Does he (finally) get jail time, or?
No he’s more popular than Williams
lmaoooo
Praying for you Williams
Protecting the rim has never been so important…
Yikes….ohhhh
Ten years in prison over a little money?
Some people were calling for Devontae Graham’s head over DUII…
10 years seems pretty extreme for defrauding a company that can afford it, and appears to have recouped most, if not all financial losses associated with this health insurance issue.
You don’t think that a DUI is a big deal?