Following an illicit scheme targeting the NBA health care plan, former NBA players Glen Davis and Will Bynum may face imprisonment. A Manhattan jury convicted them on Wednesday, as announced by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
“Moments ago, a Manhattan jury convicted former NBA players Ronald Glen Davis and William Bynum of a criminal scheme to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan. While many of the more than 20 defendants convicted in this case were well-known NBA stars, their conduct was otherwise a typical fraudulent scheme designed to defraud the NBA’s health care plan and net the defendants over $5 million in illicit profits. Today’s conviction exemplifies that despite notoriety or success in sports or any other field, no one is exempt from criminal charges if they engage in fraud.”
Bynum and Davis were among the 18 former NBA players indicted in the scheme back in 2021, all of whom faced charges of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud. The indicted players were accused of submitting false reimbursement claims to the league’s health and welfare benefit plan for medical care or procedures that were never performed, resulting in approximately $5 million in fraudulent gains.
If Bynum and Davis were found guilty of health care or wire fraud, they could be subjected to prison sentences of up to 10 and 20 years, respectively. Previously, another former NBA player, Terrence Williams, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement, with two other players receiving smaller prison terms.
Davis, 37, spent eight seasons in the NBA, four with the Boston Celtics, while Bynum, 40, played for eight years, six of which were with the Detroit Pistons.
