This certainly is not a good look for former Washington Redskins stars Clinton Portis and Carlos Rogers.
On Thursday, the United States Justice Department charged those two former players as well as eight others for defrauding the NFL healthcare program, according to this sweeping report from the Washington Post.
“The Justice Department charged 10 former NFL players, including a group of former Washington Redskins that includes running back Clinton Portis and cornerback Carlos Rogers, with defrauding a health care program for retired players of nearly $4 million, according to court documents. The Department also said it intends to file charges against two other players as well,” the Post’s reported read.
Two others are expected to be charged in the coming days, according to federal authorities.
In addition to Portis and Rogers, former NFL players charged with crimes by the feds are Robert McCune, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Frederick Bennett, Correll Buckhalter and Etric Pruitt.
According to the complaint, these players allegedly filed false claims to the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan. They were seeking reimbursement for medical equipment. The total cost for each allegedly false claim came in at between $40,000 and $50,000.
“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multimillion 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 Brian Benczkowski said in a 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.”
We will definitely have more on this story as it breaks.