Doctor Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Defrauding The NBA Players’ Health And Welfare Benefit Plan

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WILLIAM WASHINGTON was sentenced to five years in prison for his participation in a scheme to defraud the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan (the “Plan”).  WASHINGTON was convicted on June 28, 2024, following a one-week jury trial and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “William Washington, a licensed medical doctor, had a solemn responsibility not to abuse his position of trust.  Instead, Washington used his license and his clinics to generate fraudulent invoices for medical services he never performed.  Over just one year, Washington pocketed nearly a half-million dollars for himself and his co-conspirators.  This sentence sends a clear message that those who engage in health care fraud schemes, particularly medical providers, will face stringent penalties.” 

According to the Indictment and the evidence at trial:

From approximately in or about 2019 through July 2020, WASHINGTON, a licensed medical doctor who operated medical clinics located in the Seattle, Washington-area, participated in a scheme with retired NBA players to defraud the Plan.  In furtherance of the scheme, WASHINGTON generated fraudulent invoices purporting to document nearly $500,000 worth of medical services that he never provided – such as $10,000 office visits and $25,000 shoulder injections – and repeatedly lied to the Plan by claiming that he had performed those services.  WASHINGTON also swiped Plan-issued debit cards to collect money on these fake invoices. As a result of these debit card swipes, WASHINGTON received over $450,000 from the Plan, which he cashed out and distributed to his co-conspirators.   

In addition to the prison sentence, WASHINGTON, 47, of Seattle, Washington, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine, forfeit $475,042, and pay restitution in the amount of $475,042.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.