Almost two years after being charged with fraud, former NFL running back Clinton Portis is among three ex-players who have pleaded guilty for their role in a nationwide program aimed at a health care benefits program for retired NFL veterans. As the US Department of Justice announced this week, the longtime Washington star faces up to 10 years in prison for the charges, which allege he was wrongly awarded nearly $ 100,000 under of a network that sought $ 2.9 million through bogus claims.
Portis, 40, a two-time Pro Bowler who started his career with the Broncos and spent seven of his 10 seasons in Washington, pleaded guilty alongside former Chiefs return specialist Tamarick Vanover and former linebacker Robert McCune, who allegedly orchestrated the scheme. The NFL’s Gene Upshaw Health Reimbursement Account, created in 2006 to help retired players cover medical costs, offers up to $ 350,000 in benefits per player. Court documents, however, indicate that Portis submitted false and fraudulent claims for medical equipment that was not actually supplied.
The national scheme made about $ 2.9 million in false claims, according to the Justice Department, which allowed the pension plan to pay out about $ 2.5 million on those fraudulent claims between 2017 and 2018. Quant in Portis, which made headlines with a federal bankruptcy filing in 2015, the former running back is set to be sentenced for his role on January 6.
Fifteen different former NFL players have now pleaded guilty in this case. Along with Portis, Vanover and McCune, the following retired veterans are among the others charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud: former Saints wide receiver Joe Horn, former backslider of the Eagles Correll Buckhalter, former Washington cornerback Carlos Rogers, former Giants safety James Butler, former Titans defensive end Antwan Odom and former Patriots wide receiver Reche Caldwell, who was fatally shot in June 2020.