Former NFL player Clinton Portis, who played for Washington and the Denver Broncos, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and six months of home confinement for his part in a fraud targeting the health care benefit program for retired NFL veterans.
Portis pleaded guilty to fraud after being charged with profiting nearly $100,000 after filing false claims for medical equipment that was not provided. The Department of Justice pushed for a heftier sentence for Portis after he continued to deny his guilt until he faced a retrial following a hung jury. They also pointed out that Portis paid back the money to the plan shortly before his sentencing.
Fifteen other former NFL players have pleaded guilty to charges. The players have been revealed to be Joe Horn, Carlos Rogers, Correll Buckhalter, James Butler, Ceandris Brown, John Eubanks, Antwan Odom, Etric Pruitt, Darrell Reid, Anthony Montgomery, Frederick Bennett, and Reche Caldwell, who was killed in 2020.
Former linebacker Robert McCune is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to 13 counts of health care fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. He is expecting a lengthy sentence, while other players have been sentenced to house arrest ranging from six to 10 months. Horn was sentenced in November to three years of probation and at least 200 hours of community service after profiting $149,775 in the scheme, which he has paid back.
Source: ESPN
