Former Boston Celtics player Terrence Williams was sentenced on August 3, 2023, after pleading guilty to health care fraud for scamming the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan between 2017 and 2021, according to The Associated Press.
“A federal judge sentenced a former first-round NBA draft pick to 10 years in prison Thursday, saying he used his people skills to entice others to aid his $5 million health care fraud after he ‘frittered away’ substantial earnings from his professional career,” The AP reported.
Judge Valerie E. Caproni told Williams at sentencing, “You should have had enough money to be set for life, but you don’t,” according to The AP.
“Terrence Williams, 36, of Seattle, was also ordered to forfeit more than $650,000 and to pay $2.5 million in restitution for ripping off the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan between 2017 and 2021 with the help of a dentist in California and doctors in California and Washington state. Profits were generated by claims for fictitious medical and dental expenses,” according to the outlet.
Williams played 24 games for the Celtics during the 2012-13 season, averaging 4.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 49.5% from the field and 33.3% from three.
Besides the Celtics, Williams played for the Brooklyn Nets — back when they were in New Jersey — Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings from 2009 to 2013. The Celtics were the last NBA team Williams played for.
According to The Associated Press, “Williams has been incarcerated since May 2022, when prosecutors alleged that he sent threatening phone texts to a witness in the case.”
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement to media, “Williams not only lined his pockets through fraud and deceit, but he also stole the identities of others and threatened a witness to further his criminal endeavors. For his brazen criminal acts, Williams now faces years in prison.”
Other Former Celtics Named in the Fraud Scheme
Williams was considered to be the leader of this scheme, but federal prosecutors named 18 former NBA players in the fraud case, first revealed by NBC News correspondent Tom Winter on October 7, 2021.
In addition to Williams, seven of those 18 players were also previously associated with the Celtics, including:
- Tony Allen (2004-2010)
- Glen Davis (2007-2011)
- Milt Palacio (2000-2002)
- Sebastian Telfair (2006-2007)
- Will Bynum (on Boston’s preseason roster in 2005, then returned to the team in 2014 via trade before being waived)
- Darius Miles (on Boston’s preseason roster in 2008)
- Chris Douglas-Roberts (traded to Boston in 2015 and immediately waived).
According to The Associated Press, 13 of those 18 players have pleaded guilty to charges. One of them was Telfair, who pleaded guilty on March 15, 2023, according to Bloomberg’s Chris Dolmetch.
Glen Davis Says He’s Innocent
While being interviewed by VladTV in 2022, Davis proclaimed his innocence, saying that he was willing to go to trial because he knows he didn’t do anything wrong.
“Ain’t no talking. Ain’t no cooperating. This situation is the NBA doing their due diligence, and now you’re just put in a situation where you’re associated. So now I got to go to trial because they think I did something that I know I didn’t do. I know that I’m innocent.”
Davis added that he did not receive any financial benefits and that he’s only being included in the scheme because of his association with other players who did.
“I never got any money,” Davis explained. “You’re in a certain group, and now they just want to tag us all in when it’s not that. It’s people taking advantage of a situation, so I’m going to trial because I didn’t do anything.”
At the time of publication, there had been no reports of Davis changing his not guilty plea.
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Ex-Celtics Guard Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison Over Health Care Fraud: Report