Ten former NFL players, including Carlos Rogers, a defensive back for the 49ers and Raiders, have been charged by a federal grand jury with defrauding the NFL’s retiree health care benefits plan, CNN reported Thursday morning.
Brian Benczkowski, assistant attorney general at the Dept. of Justice, in a statement, characterized the alleged crimes “a brazen, multi-million dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses.”
Indictments unsealed Thursday showed that the benefits plan was bilked for more than $3 million.
Former Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis, who played for Washington and the Denver Broncos, was perhaps the most prominent player charged. Rogers spent three of his 10 NFL seasons with the 49ers. He had six interceptions and played in the Pro Bowl in 2011. He finished his career with the Raiders in 2014.
Other former players charged include Robert McCune, a former linebacker with Washington; John Eubanks, a former cornerback for Washington; Tamarick Vanover, a former Chiefs receiver; C.C. Brown, a former Houston Texans safety; James Butler, a former Giants and Rams safety; Fredrick Bennett, a former Houston Texans defensive back; Etric Pruitt, a former defensive back for the Falcons and Seahawks; and Correll Buckhalter, a former Eagles running back.
According to a news release the government plans to charge Joe Horn, a former Saints receiver and Donald “Reche” Caldwell, a former Charges and Patriots receiver.
According to CNN, the former players are alleged to have fraudulently for expensive medical equipment such as hyperbaric chambers, ultrasound machines and electromagnetic therapy devices made for horses.
The scheme ran from June 2017 to December 2019, CNN reported.