Sebastian Telfair, 17 other retired NBA vets charged with massive health care fraud
Sebastian Telfair is one of 18 retired NBA players charged with defrauding the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.
Once upon a time, Sebastian Telfair was the next big thing in basketball. The Brooklyn native and Lincoln High superstar was set to follow in his cousin Stephon Marbury’s footsteps and take the NBA by storm.
Telfair, 36, ended up playing 10 NBA seasons, but he was never the star people envisioned. Legal issues have followed him throughout his career and he’s in the limelight for the wrong reasons once again.
Telfair is one of 18 former NBA players who have been charged with defrauding the NBA out of $4 million. Tom Winter and Jonathan Dienst of NBC News were the first to break this story.
BREAKING: 18 former NBA players have been arrested and charged federally for defrauding the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of approximately $4,000,000, law enforcement officials say.
Reported by @jonathan4ny
and me.— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) October 7, 2021
Telfair is the biggest name on this list from a New Yorker’s perspective, but there are plenty of familiar names. Here is the full list of former players charged:
- Milt Palacio
- Sebastian Telfair
- Antoine Wright
- Darius Miles
- Ruben Patterson
- Eddie Robinson
- Gregory Smith
- Glen Davis
- Jamario Moon
- Terrence Williams
- Alan Anderson
- Tony Allen
- Shannon Brown
- William Bynum
- Melvin Ely
- Christopher Douglas-Roberts
- Tony Wroten
This list is a who’s who of random NBA players from the 2000s and 2010s. Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Tony Allen are the two biggest names charged. Big Baby and Allen were a part of that 2008 Boston Celtics squad that won the NBA Finals. Allen was also a six-time All-Defense selection.
According to NBC News, Terrence Williams was the ringleader of the operation, facilitating fraudulent claims for other players in exchange for kickbacks.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOKBET $5, GET $158 BONUS!
BET365 SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $150 WIN OR LOSE
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $300 BONUS IF YOUR BET WINS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $100 IF YOU WIN BET WINS
CAESARS SPORTSBOOKUSE CODE ESNY250BM & GET A BET MATCH ON YOUR FIRST BET UP TO $250!
THESCORE BET SPORTSBOOKUSE CODE ELITE TO UNLOCK BET $10, GET $100 BONUS
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK T&Cs: GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bet must settle by and Token expires 2/22/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 2/15/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK T&Cs: Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US), Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.
BET365 SPORTSBOOK T&Cs: Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply.
