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- Former NFL linebacker Robert McCune was sentenced to five years for identity theft.
- McCune was allegedly the leader of a group of NFL players indicted by the Department of Justice.
- Read more news about the NFL here.
Former linebacker Robert McCune was sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding a health care benefit program for retired NFL players, according to the United States Department of Justice.
In December of 2019, the United States Department of Justice levied charges against Robert McCune and nine other former NFL players of of defrauding and stealing money from the NFL’s health care program.
Those former NFL players included Clinton Portis, Correll Buckhalter, Carlos Rogers, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Fredrick Bennett and Etric Pruitt. At that time, charges were also expected to be made against several other former NFL players who took part in the scheme.
“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,” said assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski at the time of the indictments. “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.”
On Wednesday, the DOJ announced that court documents showed that “McCune submitted false and fraudulent claims to the Plan on his own behalf and on behalf of dozens of other former NFL players. Between June 5, 2017, and April 12, 2018, he submitted 68 claims for 51 other players. The claims typically sought reimbursement of $40,000 or more for expensive medical equipment such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines and electromagnetic therapy devices. None of the medical equipment described in the claims was ever purchased or received. In total, McCune and his co-conspirators submitted approximately $2.9 million in fraudulent claims to the Plan.”
The statement also noted, “In exchange for submitting the false and fraudulent claims, McCune demanded kickbacks and bribes in the thousands of dollars for each claim submitted.”
Robert McCune is the 15th former NFL player to be found guilty in the health care fraud scheme
Robert McCune received his five year prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of health care fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
He reportedly told the judge during his sentencing hearing, “I’m truly sorry for what I did. If there’s any leniency, I can promise you I can make it right,” adding, “I’m still not physically and mentally right. But I know as long as I’ve got breath in my body, I can make this right. I want to make it right.”
12 other former NFL players were previously given sentences for their participation in the health care scheme.
Clinton Portis was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by 180 days’ home detention. Joe Horn was sentenced to 200 hours of community service. Tamarick Vanover and Ceandris Brown were each sentenced to a year and a day in prison. Correll Buckhalter was sentenced to 10 months in prison, followed by 300 days’ home detention. John Eubanks was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Carlos Rogers was sentenced to 180 days’ home detention and 400 hours of community service. Etric Pruitt was sentenced to three months in prison, followed by 180 days’ home detention. James Butler was sentenced to two months in prison, followed by 180 days’ home detention. Anthony Montgomery, Antwan Odom, Darrell Reid and Fredrick Bennett were each sentenced to 180 days’ home detention and 240 hours of community service.
Reche Caldwell, who was also charged in the case, died after being shot and killed just prior to his sentencing hearing in June of 2020.