Eight former players indicted for fake medical claims
Eight former NFL players were indicted last week by a Harris County grand jury for submitting fraudulent health reimbursement claims after an investigation by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). Athletic trainer Louis Ray, of Houston, is accused of organizing the scheme. He turned himself in today.
The TDI investigation found Ray encouraged players to submit false claims to the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Plan. That plan helps pay qualified medical expenses for former football players. Ray is accused of providing fake paperwork for medical treatments that were never provided. In exchange, players gave Ray some of the money they collected as reimbursements for their medical expenses.
The players face charges ranging from state jail felonies to second-degree felonies carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Ray faces a first-degree felony charge of securing execution of a document by deception.
The case will be prosecuted by Special Assistant District Attorney Rick Watson, one of five prosecutors who work for TDI at district attorneys’ offices across the state. The TDI prosecutors focus on insurance fraud.
Chris Davis, head of the TDI Fraud Unit, says having staff based in local district attorney’s offices brings results. “Our investigators and prosecutors go after fraud at all levels of the insurance system” said Davis. “Being in the local prosecutors’ offices allows us to share our expertise in uncovering these crimes.”
TDI has insurance fraud prosecutors and investigators assigned to district attorneys’ offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
You can report suspected insurance fraud by calling 800-252-3439.
Charges filed
Louis Ray, 59, was indicted for the first-degree felony of Securing the Execution of a Document by Deception, for taking checks valued at more than $300,000.
Corey Bradford, 44, was indicted for the second-degree felony of Securing the Execution of a Document by Deception, for taking checks valued at more than $150,000 and less than $300,000.
James Adkisson, 40, Jonathan Hadnot Jr., 38, Clint Ingram, 37, Shantee Orr, 39, Chadwick Slaughter, 42, and Fabian Washington, 37 were each indicted for the third-degree felony of Securing the Execution of a Document by Deception for taking checks valued at more than $30,000 and less than $150,000.
Derrick Pope, 38, was indicted for the state-jail felony of Securing the Execution of a Document by Deception for taking checks worth more than $2,500 and less than $30,000.
Read more about the multi-year investigation and the individuals involved:
Houston athletic trainer and former NFL players indicted for fraud