NBA champion Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis found guilty of multiple fraud charges in a criminal scheme to take advantage of the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare program
- Davis and fellow NBA star Will Bynum will be sentenced in federal court
- Twenty players charged with defrauding the NBA benefits fund between 2017 and 2020
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A jury in Manhattan has convicted former NBA players Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis and Will Bynum of fraud.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Davis and Bynum were not the only ones engaged in this conduct.
However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says, “Although many of the more than two dozen defendants convicted in this case were well-known NBA stars, their (Davis and Bynum) conduct was otherwise a typical fraudulent scheme designed to undermine the NBA’s health care plan.” to defraud and defraud the net health care system. the defendants made more than $5 million in illegal profits.
“Today’s sentencing illustrates that despite fame or success in sport or any other field, no one is exempt from criminal prosecution if he/she is guilty of fraud.”
Davis and Bynum were specifically found guilty of health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as conspiracy to commit those two crimes, among others.
Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis (L) and Will Bynum (R) have been found guilty of multiple counts of fraud
Davis (11) was most notable in his NBA career by winning the NBA Finals with the Celtics
The former players were accused of submitting false reimbursement claims between 2017 and 2020 for medical and dental services that were not actually provided.
In total, the claims amounted to just under $4 million, with players receiving $2.5 million of that money.
The range of claims received was from $65,000 to $420,000.
In a statement made when the charges were announced in 2021, the league said: “The benefit plans provided to our players by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are critical to supporting their health and well-being throughout their playing career and beyond. over the course of their lives, which makes these allegations particularly disheartening.”
It is unclear when Bynum and Davis will be sentenced.
Davis played nine seasons in the NBA and was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in the 2007 NBA Draft. His rights were traded to the Boston Celtics and with them he won the 2008 NBA title.
He would also go on to play for the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Bynum played eight NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.