Clinton Portis Gets Six Months Jail Time For Fraud
Former Washington running back Clinton Portis has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for defrauding a health care benefit program for retired NFL veterans. He also received six months of home confinement.
The 40-year old plead guilty to the charges in September.
Portis was charged for filing false claims for medical equipment that he never received.
He was part of a ring of former players who filed fraudulent claims of $2.9 million.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Portis submitted false claims totalling $99,624 in benefits over a two-month span.
Portis was quite fortunate. He was facing up to ten years in prison.
Former Washington linebacker Robert McCune faces a much lengthier jail sentence. He could be facing life in prison after pleading guilty to 13 counts of health care fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. The DOJ considered McCune to be the leader of the scheme.
Former Washington cornerback Carlos Rogers plead guilty in December. He already admitted to helping recruit others.
In total, fifteen former players have already plead guilty to charges.
Joining former Washington players Portis, McCune and Rogers, were Joe Horn, Tamarick Vanover, Correll Buckhalter, James Butler, Ceandris Brown, John Eubanks, Antwan Odom, Etric Pruitt, Darrell Reid, Anthony Montgomery, Frederick Bennett and Reche Caldwell. Caldwell was killed in 2020.
While some players still await sentencing, Bennett, Rogers, Odom, Montgomery and Reid, have all been given house arrest sentences ranging from six to ten months.
In October, Buckhalter was slapped with a 10-month prison sentence.
In November, former New Orleans receiver Horn was given three years of probation and 200 hours of community service.