Alabama Native Charged in NBA Healthcare Scandal

Eighteen former NBA players, including an Alabama native, were charged on Thursday for conning the NBA's healthcare plan out of millions of dollars, according to NBC News correspondent Tom Winter.

According to the official indictment, the players "engaged in a widespread scheme to defraud the Plan by submitting false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement of expenses for medical and dental services that weren't actually rendered." The incident goes on to state that claims totaled around $4 million and the accused received around $2.5 million reimbursed to them.

Former Louisville star and 11th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft Terrance Williams, announced as the ringleader of the scam, handed out the false statements to the other players, not only receiving payouts by the league but also getting "$230,00 in kickbacks," according to the Department of Justice press conference. The DOJ also went on to say that some players had invoices for the same dental procedures, on the same teeth, on the exact same day.

The scheme started in 2017 and went on as late as 2020. One of the 18 former players was identified as Alabama native Jamario Moon.

Moon grew up in Goodwater, Ala., about 60 miles northeast of Montgomery, Ala., and went to school at Meridian Community College before signing to the Mobile Revelers in 2001. The Revelers were a developmental league for players hoping to make it into the NBA, before it collapsed in 2003.

Some of the NBA teams Moon played for were: Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Charlotte Bobcats. During his career, he averaged 6.3 PPG, 1.0 APG, and 4.3 RPG.

Other notable players charged in this scandal are: Tony Allen, Glen "Big Baby" Davis, and Darius Miles. Allen's wife is considered a defendant as well, according to NBC News.