Portis among 10 ex-NFLers charged with defrauding health care program
Former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and nine other ex-NFLers have been charged with defrauding a league health care program for retired players of nearly $4 million, according to court documents obtained by The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore and Rick Maese.
The former players allegedly submitted false health care claims seeking to be reimbursed for "expensive medical equipment" - such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers and cryotherapy machines - that was never purchased.
On Thursday morning, the Justice Department announced the charges against Portis, Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Frederick Bennett, Correll Buckhalter, and Etric Pruitt.
The defendants recruited others by offering "kickbacks" and bribes that ranged up to $10,000 to submit false claims using the information of those recruited, according to the indictments.
DOJ’s press conference is now underway, but here’s how the alleged scheme worked https://t.co/kVYgMzPeDQ pic.twitter.com/gF8njtzg1m
— Rick Maese (@RickMaese) December 12, 2019
"Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multimillion-dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses," said assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski in a statement.
He continued: "Today's indictments underscore that whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice."
The players filed $3.9 million in false claims and the health plan paid them more than $3.4 million on those claims between June 2017 and December 2018, Kilgore and Maese report.
Portis denied his involvement in the scheme through his attorney, Mark Dycio.
"Clinton Portis had no knowledge that his participation in what he believed to be an NFL-sanctioned medical reimbursement program was illegal," Dycio said. "He is completely taken aback by this indictment and will move forward with the process of clearing his good name and those of his fellow NFL alumni."
Former NFL wide receivers Joe Horn and Reche Caldwell will also be charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Portis played for the Redskins and Denver Broncos over a nine-year NFL career, producing six 1,000-yard rushing seasons while making two Pro Bowls.