Former NBA players Davis and Bynum convicted of $5 million insurance fraud | NBA

Former Boston Celtics forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis and ex-Detroit Piston Will Bynum were convicted Wednesday by a New York jury in a scheme that prosecutors say defrauded a scheme insurance for NBA players and their families of more than $5 million.

Davis, 37, who won the 2008 NBA championship with the Celtics and , was convicted of four counts, including wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. to make false statements. Bynum, 40, was convicted of conspiracy to make false statements but acquitted of fraud conspiracy charges.

More than 20 people were convicted in the case, many of them former NBA players who submitted fictitious dental and medical claims to the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Plan.

A dentist, a doctor and a chiropractor were also involved in the fraud scheme, with the charges first announced in October 2021.

Examples of alleged fraudulent medical procedures included Davis and another player receiving crowns on the same six teeth on the same day, and Davis receiving crowns on eight teeth in Beverly Hills while in Nevada.

Bynum was accused of receiving approximately $182,000 on a fraudulent claim related to a chiropractic practice in Encino, California, and paying Williams a $30,000 kickback.

Terrence Williams, a first-round draft pick of the New Jersey Nets in 2009, was sentenced in August to a decade in prison as the ringleader of the scheme.

“Today’s conviction illustrates that despite notoriety or success in sport or any other field, no one is immune from criminal prosecution if they engage in fraud,” the prosecutor said American Damian Williams in a press release.

Prosecutors said doctors and dentists working with the players created fraudulent invoices that were submitted to the supplemental insurance plan for reimbursement.

Bynum’s attorney, Victor Henderson, said in a statement: “We are pleased that the jury acquitted Mr. Bynum of the first count and plan to explore all aspects related to the second count.”