18 CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING NBA HEALTH PLAN

Eighteen former National Basketball Association players were charged on Thursday with defrauding the league’s health and welfare benefit plan out of US$3.9 million by seeking reimbursement for medical and dental work that was never performed. According to an indictment filed with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, players received $2.5 million in fraudulent proceeds, with 10 paying the alleged ringleader, Terrence Williams, pictured, at least $230,000 in kickbacks. Prosecutors said Williams offered false invoices in exchange for the kickbacks and helped obtain bogus “letters of medical necessity” for three players. Among the defendants are Tony Allen, a six-time member of the NBA All-defensive Team, and Glen Davis, both of whom won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Other defendants include Sebastian Telfair, a former Brooklyn high school basketball star, and Milt Palacio, now an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. Williams played for the New Jersey Nets and three other teams from 2009-13.