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Former Washington and Denver Broncos running back Clinton Portis has been sentenced for his part in defrauding a health care benefit program for retired NFL veterans.
Portis, 40, was sentenced Thursday to six months in federal prison and six months of home detention after pleading guilty in September to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, part of a scheme involving more than a dozen ex-NFL players, according to ESPN.
He admitted filing unlawful reimbursement claims in the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan, which allows former players to pursue funds for out-of-pocket medical care expenses that were not covered by insurance. These expenses were collected by the former football players, their spouses, and their dependents, with each player, granted a maximum of $350,000.
According to the Department of Justice, Portis obtained nearly $100,00 over two months as he filed false claims to the NFL‘s plan for medical equipment, which he did not purchase, such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines that are typically used on pregnant women and electromagnetic therapy devices used on horses.
The ringleaders would allegedly find ex-players eligible for the program and offer to submit claims, fabricating documents and prescriptions in exchange for kickbacks.
Along with Portis, Tamarick Vanover, a former NFL wide receiver, also obtained $159,510 in medical equipment benefits that were not provided.
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Fifteen players have now pleaded guilty to participating in the $3.4 million scheme, including former Saints receiver Joe Horn – who was sentenced to three years probation – and former Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter, who received ten months in prison.
Per ESPN, the other former players to plead guilty are Carlos Rogers, James Butler, Ceandris Brown, John Eubanks, Antwan Odom, Etric Pruitt, Darrell Reid, Anthony Montgomery, Frederick Bennett and Reche Caldwell, who was killed in 2020.
Portis, who played nine seasons in the NFL from 2002 through 2010, reports to prison in March.
The next player to be sentenced will be ex-Chiefs receiver Tamarick Vanover, set to occur on Jan. 22.