Former Grizzlies and Celtics player, Tony Allen pleaded guilty in a health insurance fraud case intended for former NBA basketball players and faces up to two years in prison. The case involves 18 former NBA players, several of whom have already pleaded guilty.
The “plan” implemented from 2017 to 2020 was aimed at the “NBA Players Health and Benefits plan”, which provides health coverage for NBA players and their families. The scam would amount to 4 million dollars.
Court documents show Tony Allen sought reimbursement for $265,000 for chiropractic care and $155,075 for dental care. He and the other league retirees (Terrence Williams, Alan Anderson, Shannon Brown, Will Bynum, Glen Davis, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Melvin Ely, Jamario Moon, Darius Miles, Milton Palacio, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Gregory Smith, Sebastian Telfair, CJ Watson, Antoine Wright and Tony Wroten) would thus have provided false prescriptions and false documents to be reimbursed for medical care which had in fact never been provided.
The former Grizzly initially pleaded not guilty, being released on $500,000 bond in 2021.
Given that he has pleaded guilty this time, and has already repaid the money, he should be able to avoid the jail box. However, he will have to wait until August 8, the date of the verdict, to be sure. His wife, also involved in the case, also pleaded guilty.
Enough to allow Tony Allen to finally see his shirt join the ceiling of the FedExForum, while the ceremony, announced for years, has been postponed pending the end of this legal process?
