Ex-NFL star guilty in $3M med scam

Once-elusive NFL Pro Bowler Clinton Portis faces up to 10 years in prison after he was brought down by federal prosecutors.

The 40-year-old ex-Washington Football Team running back, who rushed for 75 touchdowns and nearly 10,000 yards in nine seasons, pleaded guilty last Friday for his role in a nationwide scam to defraud the NFL’s health reimbursement account plan.

Portis, a two-time Pro Bowl player, collected nearly $100,000 in tax-free reimbursement for medical equipment that was never purchased, officials charged.

Portis (photo), who broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark in six of his NFL seasons, faces a maximum term of 10 years behind bars at his Jan. 6 sentencing.

His co-defendant Tamarick Vanover, a kick returner across six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers, is looking at the same amount of time in prison after pleading guilty in the plot.

Officials said Vanover recruited three other players to join in the scam, with a dozen ex-NFLers eventually pleading guilty to bilking the plan of almost $3 million. Both Portis and Vanover pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health fraud and also agreed to make full restitution to the NFL.

Portis’ former D.C. teammate Robert McCune pleaded guilty to masterminding the crooked operation, and he faces up to 20 years in prison at his Nov. 19 sentencing.

The linebacker played five games for Washington in 2005 alongside Portis.

Portis, who spent two years with the Denver Broncos and seven with the Washington, signed off on plea deal in which he implicated McCune.

“Portis knew the claims that McCune submitted on his behalf were false and fraudulent or was aware of a high probability that the claims ... submitted on his behalf were false and fraudulent and deliberately ignored that fact,” read Portis’ plea agreement.

Drafted by Denver in 2002, Portis was traded to Washington in 2004 and spent the rest of his career there.