AP PA Headlines 5/24/20

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State health officials say civil penalties totaling more than $93,000 have been assessed against nursing care facilities in Pennsylvania amid hundreds of complaint investigations during the coronavirus pandemic. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Saturday that nursing home surveyors have conducted more than 1,470 inspections of nursing homes since the beginning of February. Officials said more than 5,000 deaths in the commonwealth are now associated with the coronavirus. State health officials also reported that more than 700 more people testing positive for the coronavirus, bringing

YARDLEY, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say the deaths of two men at a luxury apartment complex in the Philadelphia area are believed to have been a murder-suicide. Police in Lower Makefield Township were called to The Edge at Yardley at about 12:30 p.m. Friday and found a man lying on the ground outside with multiple gunshot wounds. A witness told police that the shooter had entered a downstairs apartment, and police evacuated about 50 people and told others to shelter in place. Hours later, police said, Bucks County SWAT Team members entered and found the man dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police say a man in a north Philadelphia hospital for drug detoxification barricaded himself in a room in the emergency department and set fire to bed sheets, but no one was injured. Police said the 30- to 40-year-old man was searched by security at Temple University Hospital’s Episcopal  Campus at about 2:40 p.m. Saturday and placed in a room. Police said he barricaded himself inside and turned on oxygen tanks, then lit the bed sheets on fire. Police said a maintenance man broke a window and the man climbed out and fought with security, but police arrived and arrested him.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two men have been charged with firing nearly a dozen shots at three Pittsburgh-area police officers who were following them in February. Court documents indicate that 19-year-old Ezra Michael Grant of Greensburg and 18-year-old J’Lamar Jeremiah Washington of Pittsburgh face charges including attempted homicide and assault on a law enforcement officer in the Feb. 4 shooting. The Tribune-Review reports that no one was seriously hurt. Detectives said Grant denied shooting at the van. Court documents don’t list defense attorneys and listed numbers for them couldn’t be found Saturday.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

 

Features

(AP) —  Millions of Americans are set to emerge from coronavirus lockdowns and venture outdoors to celebrate Memorial Day weekend at beaches, cookouts and family outings. But public health officials have deep concerns that large gatherings could cause outbreaks to come roaring back. Medical experts warn the virus won’t take a holiday for the unofficial start of summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying home, avoiding crowds and connecting with family by phone or video chat. Specialists advise those who celebrate to maintain social distancing, wear masks and avoid sharing food and drinks.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

 

Sports

(AP) —  Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are getting ready for another made-for-TV match, this time with friends from the NFL. Woods and Peyton Manning take on Mickelson and Tom Brady in what’s being billed as “The Match: Champions for Charity.” It will be the second straight Sunday live golf is on TV. The purpose is to raise $10 million for COVID-19 relief efforts and to provide entertainment. Another big appeal is seeing golf’s biggest star on TV again. Woods was last seen on Feb. 16 at Riviera when he shot weekend rounds of 76 and 77 and finished last at the Genesis Invitational.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Linebacker Anthony Chickillo has agreed to a contract with the New Orleans Saints after playing the last five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The deal was announced Saturday by Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Chickillo is changing teams for the first time. He was drafted in the sixth round by Pittsburgh in 2015. He played in 11 games for the Steelers last season.

UNDATED (AP) — The NBA is in talks with The Walt Disney Company on a single-site scenario for a resumption of play in Central Florida in late July. It’s the clearest sign yet that the NBA believes the season can continue amid the coronavirus pandemic. Games would be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a massive campus on the Disney property near Orlando. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the conversations were still “exploratory,” and that the site would be used for practices and housing as well.

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was arrested in Southern California on Friday. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the second player taken in the 1998 draft was taken into custody on a domestic battery charge in Palm Desert, about 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Leaf was being held on $5,000 bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. Leaf finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1997 and led Washington State to the Rose Bowl. Drafted by the Chargers, he won just four of 18 games as a starter in three seasons with the team.

UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Nationals have changed their plans for a virtual World Series ring ceremony after players decided they would rather wait until they could reunite in person to receive their new jewelry. The Nationals previously announced they were going to give out the rings during a show broadcast on television and online. They still plan to unveil the design of the ring Sunday, the anniversary of the date they began their turnaround from a 19-31 record to World Series champs.

UNDATED (AP) — Canada’s NHL teams have offered season ticket-holders rebate or refund options in acknowledgment that no more 2019-20 regular-season games will be played in front of fans in their respective buildings. The Canadian Press says all seven teams contacted their season ticket bases last week with options and/or deadlines to make a decision. Leagues and teams around the world are either playing in empty stadiums or trying to figure out a way to just resume play during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STERLING, Va. (AP) — President Donald Trump played golf Saturday for the first time since he declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency more than two months ago. The golf outing came a day after Trump said houses of worship are “essential” and he demanded that governors allow them to reopen during the holiday weekend. Photographs that appeared on Twitter showed him swinging a golf club and driving alone in a cart on the course at his private Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

AP PA Headlines 5/24/20

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State health officials say civil penalties totaling more than $93,000 have been assessed against nursing care facilities in Pennsylvania amid hundreds of complaint investigations during the coronavirus pandemic. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Saturday that nursing home surveyors have conducted more than 1,470 inspections of nursing homes since the beginning of February. Officials said more than 5,000 deaths in the commonwealth are now associated with the coronavirus. State health officials also reported that more than 700 more people testing positive for the coronavirus, bringing

YARDLEY, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say the deaths of two men at a luxury apartment complex in the Philadelphia area are believed to have been a murder-suicide. Police in Lower Makefield Township were called to The Edge at Yardley at about 12:30 p.m. Friday and found a man lying on the ground outside with multiple gunshot wounds. A witness told police that the shooter had entered a downstairs apartment, and police evacuated about 50 people and told others to shelter in place. Hours later, police said, Bucks County SWAT Team members entered and found the man dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police say a man in a north Philadelphia hospital for drug detoxification barricaded himself in a room in the emergency department and set fire to bed sheets, but no one was injured. Police said the 30- to 40-year-old man was searched by security at Temple University Hospital’s Episcopal  Campus at about 2:40 p.m. Saturday and placed in a room. Police said he barricaded himself inside and turned on oxygen tanks, then lit the bed sheets on fire. Police said a maintenance man broke a window and the man climbed out and fought with security, but police arrived and arrested him.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two men have been charged with firing nearly a dozen shots at three Pittsburgh-area police officers who were following them in February. Court documents indicate that 19-year-old Ezra Michael Grant of Greensburg and 18-year-old J’Lamar Jeremiah Washington of Pittsburgh face charges including attempted homicide and assault on a law enforcement officer in the Feb. 4 shooting. The Tribune-Review reports that no one was seriously hurt. Detectives said Grant denied shooting at the van. Court documents don’t list defense attorneys and listed numbers for them couldn’t be found Saturday.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

 

Features

(AP) —  Millions of Americans are set to emerge from coronavirus lockdowns and venture outdoors to celebrate Memorial Day weekend at beaches, cookouts and family outings. But public health officials have deep concerns that large gatherings could cause outbreaks to come roaring back. Medical experts warn the virus won’t take a holiday for the unofficial start of summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying home, avoiding crowds and connecting with family by phone or video chat. Specialists advise those who celebrate to maintain social distancing, wear masks and avoid sharing food and drinks.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

 

Sports

(AP) —  Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are getting ready for another made-for-TV match, this time with friends from the NFL. Woods and Peyton Manning take on Mickelson and Tom Brady in what’s being billed as “The Match: Champions for Charity.” It will be the second straight Sunday live golf is on TV. The purpose is to raise $10 million for COVID-19 relief efforts and to provide entertainment. Another big appeal is seeing golf’s biggest star on TV again. Woods was last seen on Feb. 16 at Riviera when he shot weekend rounds of 76 and 77 and finished last at the Genesis Invitational.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Linebacker Anthony Chickillo has agreed to a contract with the New Orleans Saints after playing the last five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The deal was announced Saturday by Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Chickillo is changing teams for the first time. He was drafted in the sixth round by Pittsburgh in 2015. He played in 11 games for the Steelers last season.

UNDATED (AP) — The NBA is in talks with The Walt Disney Company on a single-site scenario for a resumption of play in Central Florida in late July. It’s the clearest sign yet that the NBA believes the season can continue amid the coronavirus pandemic. Games would be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a massive campus on the Disney property near Orlando. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the conversations were still “exploratory,” and that the site would be used for practices and housing as well.

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was arrested in Southern California on Friday. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the second player taken in the 1998 draft was taken into custody on a domestic battery charge in Palm Desert, about 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Leaf was being held on $5,000 bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. Leaf finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1997 and led Washington State to the Rose Bowl. Drafted by the Chargers, he won just four of 18 games as a starter in three seasons with the team.

UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Nationals have changed their plans for a virtual World Series ring ceremony after players decided they would rather wait until they could reunite in person to receive their new jewelry. The Nationals previously announced they were going to give out the rings during a show broadcast on television and online. They still plan to unveil the design of the ring Sunday, the anniversary of the date they began their turnaround from a 19-31 record to World Series champs.

UNDATED (AP) — Canada’s NHL teams have offered season ticket-holders rebate or refund options in acknowledgment that no more 2019-20 regular-season games will be played in front of fans in their respective buildings. The Canadian Press says all seven teams contacted their season ticket bases last week with options and/or deadlines to make a decision. Leagues and teams around the world are either playing in empty stadiums or trying to figure out a way to just resume play during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STERLING, Va. (AP) — President Donald Trump played golf Saturday for the first time since he declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency more than two months ago. The golf outing came a day after Trump said houses of worship are “essential” and he demanded that governors allow them to reopen during the holiday weekend. Photographs that appeared on Twitter showed him swinging a golf club and driving alone in a cart on the course at his private Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

A former Philadelphia Eagle is one of 10 ex-NFL players
charged with enriching themselves by filing false claims through a program
meant to help retired players and their families pay for medical expenses.

Former Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter is charged
with receiving bribes and kickbacks for submitting false claims for expensive medical
equipment on behalf of others, and recruiting fellow NFL players to join in the
scheme, according to a federal grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday.

Some of the fake claims were for equipment such as “hyperbaric
oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines designed for use by a doctor’s office to
conduct women’s health examinations, and electromagnetic therapy devices
designed for use on horses,” the indictment claims.

Buckhalter played for the Eagles between 2001 and 2008. He and his co-conspirators received anywhere from “a few thousand dollars to $10,000 or more” per fake claim, according to federal prosecutors.

The alleged scheme involved the defendants misusing the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan between roughly July 2017 and December of last year. The plan, funded by teams within the league, allows players to earn thousands of tax-exempt dollars for themselves, spouses or dependents per each season played beyond three seasons.

The cash is supposed to be used to cover legitimate medical expenses, with players and their families being reimbursed through the plan, but the defendants’ claims were allegedly fake.

Buckhalter was able to submit players’ fake claims by getting them to give him personal information, including their social security numbers, according to court documents. He allegedly went so far as to impersonate players by calling the phone number on the reimbursement form to check on the status of the claims.

To make the reimbursement forms seem real, Buckhalter and his co-defendants are alleged to have submitted fake letters – purportedly written by health care providers – describing players’ or their families’ use of the equipment, as well as submitting fake prescriptions and fake invoices for proof of purchase of the equipment.

The scheme caused the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan to pay out more than $3.4 million in fake claims, according to federal prosecutors.

Buckhalter is charged with conspiring to commit wire and health care fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

He will make his initial appearance in federal court in
Kentucky on Jan. 2, a Justice Department spokesman said. It is not yet known if
Buckhalter has obtained an attorney.

The players allegedly submitted false claims to the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan for reimbursement for medical equipment costing between $40,000 and $50,000. Players who filed the fraudulent claims on behalf of others received “payment of kickbacks and bribes” of up to $10,000 for each false claim.

The Wall Street Journal:
DOJ Charges 10 Ex-NFL Players With Health Care Fraud

The federal government charged 10 former National Football League players on Thursday with participating in a scheme that stole $3.4 million from an NFL health care fund for retired players. The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday announced charges against Robert McCune and nine other ex-players, including Clinton Portis and Correll Buckhalter, for two conspiracies that were linked to the same scheme to defraud the plan. The agency also said it also intends to charge Joe Horn and one other player. (Radnofsky and Gurman, 12/12)

CNBC:
Clinton Portis, Other NFL Players Charged With Health Claims Fraud

“By defrauding the plan and treating it like their own personal ATM machine, sadly, the defendants placed the plan’s tax-exempt status at risk and threatened the ability of law-abiding former players to continue to receive tax-free reimbursements for legitimate medical expenses for themselves or their families,” said assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski. (Mangan, 12/12)

The Washington Post:
Clinton Portis, 9 Others Charged In NFL Health Care Fraud Case

The players allegedly submitted false claims to the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan for reimbursement for medical equipment — such as hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy machines, ultrasound machines used to conduct women’s health exams and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses — costing between $40,000 and $50,000. According to the indictments, the players fabricated documents, including invoices and prescriptions, to execute the plan. (Kilgore and Maese, 12/12)

CNN:
Clinton Portis Is Among 12 Retired NFL Players Accused Of Health Benefits Scam Worth Over $3 Million

In addition, some defendants recruited other retired players to participate in the scheme in exchange for kickbacks and bribes that ranged from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 or more per claim, prosecutors said. McCune and Buckhalter even called the health benefits plan’s phone line and impersonated other players to check on the status of the claims, the press release states. Health insurance company Cigna flagged anomalies in the types of claims being filed and referred the fraud to federal investigators, Benczkowski said. (Levenson, Kupperman and Martin, 12/12)

ABC News:
10 Former NFL Players Charged By DOJ In Alleged Health Care Fraud Scheme

Robert McCune, 36, John Eubanks, 36, Rogers and Brown were all arrested, according to a department official, while six others named in the indictments surrendered voluntarily. The maximum sentence for the charges range from 10 to 20 years, and DOJ noted that all are presumed innocent until proven guilty. (Mallin, 12/12)

New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Joe Horn, 9 Other Former NFL Players Accused Of Defrauding Health Care Program For League Retirees 

Joe Horn, a former standout wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, is among several former NFL players who have been implicated in an alleged plot to defraud a health care program designed to help retired pro football players and their families. Horn, 47, faces one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a case being pursued by the office of U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan in the Eastern District of Kentucky. His alleged misdeeds are spelled out in a bill of information, which suggests he is cooperating with prosecutors and may already have negotiated a plea deal. (Vargas, 12/12)

This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten former NFL players have been charged with defrauding the league’s health care benefit program, the Justice Department said Thursday.

They include five former players on the Washington Redskins, including Clinton Portis and Carlos Rogers.

See also: Agent Scott Boras will make more money next year than almost every MLB player

Prosecutors allege the players targeted the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan, which was established as part of a collective bargaining agreement in 2006. It provides tax-free reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical care expenses that were not covered by insurance and that were incurred by former players, their spouses and dependents.

The Justice Department alleges the players submitted nearly $4 million in false claims to the plan, resulting in over $3.4 million being paid out between June 2017 and December 2018.

Court papers allege Portis and seven other players submitted claims to be reimbursed for expensive medical equipment. But prosecutors allege they had never purchased or received the medical equipment.

See also: This state makes the most tax revenue from sports betting — and it’s not Nevada

The indictment filed in federal court in Kentucky alleges they fabricated letters from health care providers about using the medical equipment, fabricated prescriptions that were purportedly signed by healthcare providers and created fake invoices from medical equipment companies in an effort to prove the equipment was purchased.

Former Players Allegedly Defrauded health care benefit program for retired NFL players

ABOVE VIDEO: Ten former National Football League players have been charged in the Eastern District of Kentucky for their alleged roles in a nationwide fraud on a health care benefit program for retired NFL players. (Fox 5 DC Video)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Ten former National Football League players have been charged in the Eastern District of Kentucky for their alleged roles in a nationwide fraud on a health care benefit program for retired NFL players.

The alleged fraud targeted the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan (the Plan), which was established pursuant to the 2006 collective bargaining agreement and provided for tax-free reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical care expenses that were not covered by insurance and that were incurred by former players, their wives and their dependents – up to a maximum of $350,000 per player.

According to the charging documents, over $3.9 million in false and fraudulent claims were submitted to the Plan, and the Plan paid out over $3.4 million on those claims between June 2017 and December 2018.

“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed 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,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.

“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 defendants are alleged to have developed and executed a fraudulent scheme to undermine a health care benefit plan established by the NFL – one established to help their former teammates and colleagues pay for legitimate medical expenses,” said U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr., for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

“The defendants allegedly submitted false claims to the plan and obtained money for expensive medical equipment that was never purchased or received, depriving that plan of valuable resources to help others meet their medical needs. We have prioritized the investigation and prosecution of health care fraud in our office, and we appreciate the partnership we share with the Criminal Division and the FBI in pursuing these important matters.”

“This investigation serves as an illustration of the rampant and deliberate scams against health care plans occurring daily throughout the country,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the Miami Field Office.

“In this case, these fraudsters pocketed money from the Gene Upshaw National Football League Health Reimbursement Account Plan that was intended for former NFL players who are ill or infirm.  Over 20 FBI field offices participated in this investigation which demonstrates the level of commitment we have to rooting out this type of fraud.”

Two separate indictments filed in the Eastern District of Kentucky outline two alleged conspiracies involving different players related to the same scheme to defraud the Plan.

Those charged in the indictments are the following:

• Robert McCune, 40, of Riverdale, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and nine counts of health care fraud.
• John Eubanks, 36, of Cleveland, Mississippi; Tamarick Vanover, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida; and Carlos Rogers, 38, of Alpharetta, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of health care fraud.
• Clinton Portis, 38, of McLean, Virginia; Ceandris Brown, 36, of Fresno, Texas; James Butler, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Fredrick Bennett, 35, of Port Wentworth, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of health care fraud.
• Correll Buckhalter, 41, of Colleyville, Texas, and Etric Pruitt, 38, of Theodore, Alabama, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.

In addition, the government has filed notice that it intends to file criminal informations charging Joseph Horn, 47, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Donald “Reche” Caldwell, 40, of Tampa, Florida, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The indictments charge that the scheme to defraud involved the submission of false and fraudulent claims to the Plan for expensive medical equipment – typically between $40,000 and $50,000 for each claim – that was never purchased or received.

The expensive medical equipment described on the false and fraudulent claims included hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy machines, ultrasound machines designed for use by a doctor’s office to conduct women’s health examinations and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses.

According to allegations in the indictments, McCune, Eubanks, Vanover, Buckhalter, Rogers and others recruited other players into the scheme by offering to submit or cause the submission of these false and fraudulent claims in exchange for kickbacks and bribes that ranged from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 or more per claim submitted.

As part of the scheme, the defendants allegedly fabricated supporting documentation for the claims, including invoices, prescriptions and letters of medical necessity.

After the claims were submitted, McCune and Buckhalter allegedly called the telephone number provided by the Plan and impersonated certain other players in order to check on the status of the false and fraudulent claims.

This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The investigation included efforts by various FBI Field Offices and Resident Agencies, including: Augusta, Georgia; Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Columbia, South Carolina; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Jackson, Mississippi; Lexington, Kentucky; New Orleans, Louisiana; Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida; Newark, New Jersey; Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Newport Beach, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Washington, D.C.

Trial Attorneys John (Fritz) Scanlon, Alexander J. Kramer and Thomas J. Tynan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul C. McCaffrey and Andrew E. Smith of the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the cases.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday announced that it has charged 10 former NFL players with fraud for allegedly submitting false claims for medical equipment totaling $3.9 million to a health benefits program for former players.

Your cheat sheets for understanding health care’s legal landscape

Details on the charges

DOJ has charged the former players with making fraudulent claims to the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan. The plan provides tax-free reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred by former NFL players, their spouses, and their dependents.

The former players allegedly created false documentation—including invoices, prescriptions, and letters of medical need—to make claims for medical equipment, including hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy devices, ultrasound equipment used in doctors’ offices for imaging on pregnant women, and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for horses, DOJ said. The claims the were typically between $40,000 to $50,000, according to DOJ.

DOJ said some of the players acted as “ringleaders” in the scheme, recruiting other former players to submit claims for kickbacks and bribes that in some cases reached more than $10,000 per claim. Two of the players even called the health benefits plan impersonating other players to check on the claims, DOJ said.

In total, DOJ said more than $3.9 million in false claims were filed, and the plan paid out more than $3.4 million between June 2017 and December 2018.

The fraud was detected by plan administrator Cigna, which became suspicious of the claims and alerted DOJ’s medical fraud division.

The indictments, which were filed in federal court by the Eastern District of Kentucky, are against:

• Clinton Portis, former Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos running back;
• Robert McCune, former Redskins linebacker;
• John Eubanks, former Redskins cornerback;
• Tamarick Vanover, former Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers wide receiver;
• Ceandris “C.C.” Brown, former Houston Texans safety;
• James Butler, former New York Giants and St. Louis Rams safety;
• Fredrick Bennett, former Texans defensive back;
• Etric Pruitt, former Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks defensive back;
• Carlos Rogers, former Redskins and San Francisco 49ers cornerback; and
• Correll Buckhalter, former Philadelphia Eagles running back.

In addition, DOJ intends to charge former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn and former San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots wide receiver Donald “Reche” Caldwell with conspiracy, according to the New York Times.

Reaction

Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said, “By defrauding the plan and treating it like their own personal ATM machine, sadly, the defendants placed the plan’s tax-exempt status at risk and threatened the ability of law-abiding former players to continue to receive tax-free reimbursements for legitimate medical expenses for themselves or their families.”

George Piro, special agent in charge of the FBI‘s Miami Field Office, said the charges “serv[e] as an illustration of the rampant and deliberate scams against health care plans occurring daily throughout the country.”

Mark Dycio, an attorney for Portis, said Portis “had no knowledge that his participation in what he believed to be an NFL sanctioned medical reimbursement program was illegal. 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” (Mangan, CNBC, 12/12; Belson, New York Times, 12/12; Fernandez, Axios, 12/12; Levenson et al., CNN, 12/12; DOJ release, 12/12).

Ten former pro football players have been charged with committing a nationwide fraud on a health care benefit program for retired NFL players.

Ten former National Football League (NFL) players, including two from Texas, have been charged in the U.S. District Court for thetern District of Kentucky in two separate indictments for their alleged roles in what prosecutors asserted was a nationwide fraud on a health care benefit program for retired NFL players.

According to prosecutors, the alleged fraud targeted the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan, which was established pursuant to the 2006 collective bargaining agreement and which provided for tax-free reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical care expenses that were not covered by insurance and that were incurred by former players, their wives, and their dependents – up to a maximum of $350,000 per player.

As alleged in the charging documents, over $3.9 million in false and fraudulent claims were submitted to the plan, and the plan paid out over $3.4 million on those claims between June 2017 and December 2018.

The following former players were charged:

• Ceandris Brown, 36, of Fresno, Texas; Clinton Portis, 38, of McLean, Virginia;  James Butler, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Fredrick Bennett, 35, of Port Wentworth, Georgia, each were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of health care fraud.
• Correll Buckhalter, 41, of Colleyville, Texas, and Etric Pruitt, 38, of Theodore, Alabama, were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.
• Robert McCune, 40, of Riverdale, Georgia, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, nine counts of wire fraud, and nine counts of health care fraud.
• John Eubanks, 36, of Cleveland, Mississippi; Tamarick Vanover, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida; and Carlos Rogers, 38, of Alpharetta, Georgia, each were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of health care fraud.

In addition, the government filed notice that it intended to file criminal informations charging Joseph Horn, 47, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Donald “Reche” Caldwell, 40, of Tampa, Florida, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The indictments charged that the alleged scheme to defraud involved the submission of false and fraudulent claims to the plan for expensive medical equipment – typically between $40,000 and $50,000 for each claim – that was never purchased or received.  As alleged, the expensive medical equipment included hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy machines, ultrasound machines designed for use by a doctor’s office to conduct women’s health examinations, and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses.

According to allegations in the indictments, Messrs. McCune, Eubanks, Vanover, Buckhalter, Rogers, and others recruited other players into the scheme by offering to submit or cause the submission of these false and fraudulent claims in exchange for kickbacks and bribes that ranged from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 or more per claim submitted. Prosecutors asserted that the defendants fabricated supporting documentation for the claims, including invoices, prescriptions, and letters of medical necessity.  After the claims were submitted, Mr. McCune and Mr. Buckhalter allegedly called the telephone number provided by the plan and impersonated certain other players in order to check on the status of the false and fraudulent claims, the government said.

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.