Terrence Williams pleads guilty in fraud case involving NBA’s benefit plan

Terrence Williams has entered a guilty plea in a fraud case that includes 17 other former NBA players, according to the Associated Press.

An October 2021 indictment accused the 35-year-old Williams of orchestrating an effort to commit health care fraud and identity theft involving the NBA’s health plan. He submitted his plea Friday in federal court in Manhattan and will be sentenced in January. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiracy and a mandatory two-year sentence for identity theft.

The scheme involved fake claims and paperwork being submitted to the health plan for reimbursement of medical and dental expenses. Authorities reported that at least $5M in false claims were turned in by the ex-players from 2017 to 2021.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Terrence Williams received at least $300K in kickbacks as the leader of the scam. He recruited other ex-players to participate and gave them fake paperwork to submit.

Under a plea agreement, Terrence Williams will pay $2.5M in restitution to the health care plan and will forfeit more than $650K to the federal government. He has been in custody since earlier this year when he was accused of threatening a witness.

Terrence Williams, the 11th selection in the 2009 draft, played for the Nets, Rockets, Kings and Celtics during his four-year NBA career.