2 Texans, Ex-NFL Players, Among 10 Charged In Fraud Scheme: DOJ

Federal authorities have charged 10 former NFL players, including two who are currently Texas residents, in what they called a nationwide scheme to defraud a health care benefit program for retired players of millions of dollars.

Ceandris, Brown, 36, of Fresno, Texas, a former player for the Houston Texans, and Correll Buckhalter, 41, of Colleyville, Texas, who has played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos, are facing charges.

Brown is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of health care fraud. Buckhalter is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.

Federal prosecutors accuse the former NFL players of targeting the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan, which provided tax-free reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical care expenses not covered by insurance. Those charged made more than $3.9 million in false and fraudulent claims against the plan and were paid out $3.4 million between June 2017 and December 2018, the Justice Department said.

The other players charged in the alleged fraud are:

Robert McCune, 40, of Riverdale Georgia, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and nine counts of health care fraud. McCune was drafted by the Washington Redskins when he began his career and he has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.

John Eubanks, 36, of Cleveland, Mississippi; Tamarick Vanover, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida; and Carlos Rogers, 38, of Alpharetta, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of health care fraud. Eubanks has played football in Canada and also played for the Washington Redskins. Vanover has played for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. Rogers has played for the Redskins, the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders.

Clinton Portis, 38, of McLean, Virginia; James Butler, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Frederick Bennett, 35, of Port Wentworth, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of health care fraud. Portis has played for the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos. Butler has played for the New York Giants and the St. Louis Rams.

Etric Pruitt, 38, of Theodore, Alabama, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. Pruitt has played for a number of teams including the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks.

Government prosecutors also said they have filed notice that they intend to charge Joseph Horn, 47, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Donald "Reche" Caldwell, 40, of Tampa, Florida, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

"Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multi-million dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses," Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski said in a prepared statement. "Today’s indictments underscore that whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice."

The indictments filed by federal authorities say the scheme involved submitting false and fraudulent claims to the plan for expensive medical equipment, between $40,000-$50,000 for each claim. The equipment was never purchased, officials said.

Five of the former players — McCune, Eubanks, Vanover, Buckhalter and Rogers — recruited others into the scheme by offering to submit fraudulent claims in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, the department alleged.

"As part of the scheme, the defendants allegedly fabricated supporting documentation for the claims, including invoices, prescriptions and letters of medical necessity," officials said.

After submitting the claims, the government said McCune and Buckhalter are accused of calling the phone number provided by the plan and impersonated other players to check on the status of the claims.

This story will be updated.