Four teenagers have been charged with stealing Australian rugby union star James O’Connor’s car after a police chase which ended at an inner Brisbane shopping centre.

The three boys and a girl, aged 14-15, are facing multiple charges after Wallabies and Queensland Reds player O’Connor’s white Land Rover was allegedly stolen from an Auchenflower home on Monday.

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The teens then allegedly used the car to speed through Brisbane’s south on Tuesday when police spotted it in Inala.

It was tracked by police helicopter on the Logan Motorway to Larapinta about 2.30pm.

“The vehicle was tracked as it continued to allegedly be driven dangerously throughout local streets and suburbs, travelling through red lights,” police said in a statement.

They allegedly drove into the car park at Toowong Village in Brisbane’s inner-west, from where they are accused of ditching the vehicle and making a run for the train station.

“A short foot pursuit commenced and the four were taken into custody without incident,” police said.

They have been charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, burglary and commit and indictable offence and receiving tainted property.

They are expected to face the Brisbane Children’s Court on a later date.

O’Connor, a veteran of 52 tests, is the second Brisbane-based sports star to have his car stolen allegedly by youths.

AFL forward Charlie Cameron allegedly had his Mercedes taken by a local gang in March.

Washington, DC – Several former National Football League (NFL) players, including former Redskin Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis, have been charged with trying to defraud the league’s health care program for retired players.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has indicted Portis, Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Frederick Bennett, Correll Buckhalter, and Etric Pruitt so far, FOX News reported.

The government has said it planned to also charge former NFL players Joe Horn and Reche Caldwell with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

“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,” Duncan said.

The NFL established the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan in 2006 to provide tax-free reimbursement for medical expenses that were not covered by insurance that were incurred by former players or their immediate family members, FOX News reported.

Prosecutors have alleged that the group of former football players tried to charge made-up expenses for expensive health equipment to the NFL’s health care plan so they could get tax-free reimbursements.

Federal documents showed that, collectively, the charged players submitted more than $3.9 million in fraudulent medical claims between June 2017 and June 2018 for hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy machines, ultrasound machines, and electromagnetic therapy devices that were designed to be used on a horse, FOX News reported.

The fake claims for expensive equipment ran $40,000 to $50,000 each.

The players who first participated in the fraud are accused of recruiting other players to participate and asking for kickbacks or bribes as payment, FOX News reported.

The bribes ranged from a few thousand dollars up to as much as $10,000 per successful fraudulent claim.

Portis, Brown, Butler, and Bennett have each been 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, according to FOX News.

McCune has been 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.

Eubanks, Vanover, and Rogers have each been 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, according to FOX News.

And Buckhalter and Pruitt have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.

Portis was by far the most high-profile of the former football stars to be charged, FOX News reported.

He played nine seasons for the Washington Redskins and made $43.1 million over his career in salary and bonuses.

A former NBA player is accused of breaking into a house in Georgia, stealing $100,000 and beating up a teenager.

James Edward “J.J.” Hickson Jr., 29, was arrested and charged with home invasion, aggravated assault and armed robbery with a knife on June 15, according to WSB-TV in Atlanta.

He allegedly broke into the house in unincorporated Senoia around 10:30 a.m. through a side door with a knife, authorities said, stole the large sum of cash, and several other items and then left.

A neighbor named Mary Taylor told WSB-TV that she saw the 17-year-old victim run out of the house after the robbery, with a broken nose.

“When he told me what happened,” she said, “I was so nervous I couldn’t even punch in [911] in my phone.”

Authorities did not say why Hickson chose that particular house, which is 60 miles away from his own in Smyrna.

The targeted house is at the end of the street near a stop sign, and a neighbor told WSB-TV that they spotted the getaway car five hours before the robbery.

“They jumped in the car and took off real fast,” a witness told the station.

Authorities said they believe at least two people were involved in the robbery, but so far only Hickson has been charged.

He was booked into the Coweta County jail without a bond.

Hickson played high school ball in Marietta and college ball at NC State. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 19th overall pick in the 2008 draft, according to ESPN.com. He made at least $27 million during his eight season career, and he played for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings.

Since his NBA career ended in the 2015-16 season, he’s been playing overseas, most recently in 2018 with the Champville team in the Lebanese Basketball League.

[Photo: Getty]

J.J. Hickson, a former NBA player who played in the Lebanese Basketball League this past year, was arrested Friday. He is being held without bail in Coweta County Jail in Georgia after being charged with armed robbery.

Authorities said Monday that Hickson stole $100,000 during the violent home invasion, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Senoia, Georgia. Not only did Hickson allegedly attack a person, but he also is accused of stealing a large sum of money. Hickson is awaiting trial.

After playing at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, Hickson attended N.C. State. He then played eight seasons in the NBA, bouncing around and playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards.

Prior to joining the Champville team in the Lebanese Basketball League last year, Hickson played for the Wizards. He averaged 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game over the course of his NBA career.

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Former NBA player James Edward “J.J.” Hickson Jr was arrested on Friday for allegedly stealing $100,000 during a violent Georgia home invasion.

 (Coweta County Sheriff’s Office)

A former NBA player was arrested Friday night for stealing $100,000 in cash during a Georgia home invasion that left a teenage resident with a broken nose, police said.

James Edward “J.J.” Hickson Jr. — who was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008 – entered the residence located in Coweta County, through the side door and used a knife to attack the 17-year-old, police said, according to WSB-TV.

A law enforcement official told FOX 5 that “the victim was beat up pretty good.”

Hickson was charged with armed robbery in connection with a home invasion, the station reported. Authorities believe at least two other people were involved, however, as of Friday night Hickson is the only one currently facing charges.

Authorities said the former NBA player’s relationship to the victims was not immediately clear, WSB-TV reported.

The 29-year-old was a standout high school basketball before a successful eight-year NBA career that involved stints with the Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Lazarus Sims, a former Syracuse University basketball player who was recently suspended from his position as Syracuse’s parks department commissioner has been charged with third-degree grand larceny, Syracuse.com reported on Tuesday.

Court documents show Sims is accused of stealing $5,400 from the city between Oct. 16, 2017 and Oct. 31, 2017 by pocketing cash payments from park rentals and city fees, according to Syracuse.com.  An arraignment was held for Sims on Tuesday morning in the downtown Syracuse City Court.

After the discovery of financial discrepancies in the parks department during an audit conducted by City Auditor Marty Masterpole, Sims was put on administrative leave on March 26, Syracuse.com reported.

Sims pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to Spectrum News.

According to Syracuse.com, Sims was still collecting a paycheck after he was suspended by Walsh following the audit. Syracuse.com also reported that Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens will take over the parks department during Sim’s absence, and Deputy Commissioner Julie LaFave will oversee day-to-day operations.

Common Councilor Susan Boyle requested the audit in January after receiving information about the parks department from community members who raised concerns, Syracuse.com reported.

“This whole thing stinks. I hope the District Attorney says there’s nothing to see here,” Masterpole told Syracuse.com in late March. “But I couldn’t turn a blind eye to this.”

Sims was hired as parks commissioner in 2015 under former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner. He was reappointed on Dec. 31 when Walsh took office, according to Syracuse.com.

Syacuse.com also reported that Walsh said in a news release that he was saddened by the news of the charges.

“Lazarus has done a lot of good for Syracuse and, in particular, for young people in the city,” Walsh said in the news release, according to Syracuse.com.

Sims played basketball for SU as a point guard from 1992 to 1996. He helped lead the team to an NCAA championship that SU lost to Kentucky. Sims is also a Syracuse native and grew up playing basketball on the South Side, Syracuse.com reported.

After leaving SU, Sims went on to play professional basketball overseas and played for the Harlem Globetrotters, Syracuse.com reported.

In 2007, Sims returned to his alma mater to join SU Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim’s staff as the director of player development. After four years at SU, Sims left to become an assistant coach at Binghamton University.

According to Syracuse.com, Sims will return to court on May 7.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Police say a University of Connecticut field hockey star who led the country with 34 goals last season has been charged with stealing $34 worth of makeup.

The Hartford Courant reports 22-year-old Charlotte Veitner was arrested Sunday at the campus bookstore after staff told police she tried to conceal cosmetic items inside a bag.

Veitner was charged with larceny and released on $1,500 bail. She is to appear in court Feb. 14.

The senior is the school’s all-time leading scorer, including two goals that helped lift the team to its fifth national championship in November.

She did not immediately return messages Wednesday. Court records do not indicate if she has a lawyer.

A UConn athletics department spokesman says the university is aware of the arrest and has no further comment.

HARTFORD, Conn. – Police say a University of Connecticut field hockey star who led the country with 34 goals last season has been charged with stealing $34 worth of makeup.

The Hartford Courant reports 22-year-old Charlotte Veitner was arrested Sunday at the campus bookstore after staff told police she tried to conceal cosmetic items inside a bag.

Veitner was charged with larceny and released on $1,500 bail. She is to appear in court Feb. 14.

The senior is the school’s all-time leading scorer, including two goals that helped lift the team to its fifth national championship in November.

She did not immediately return messages Wednesday. Court records do not indicate if she has a lawyer.

A UConn athletics department spokesman says the university is aware of the arrest and has no further comment.

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Information from: Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com