Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Insurance recently announced that Chadwick Slaughter and Fabian Washington are the latest former NFL players to plead guilty for their part in a scheme to defraud the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan (HRA Plan).
Slaughter and Washington pleaded guilty this month to submitting false medical claims to the HRA Plan. Slaughter took nearly $34,000 and Washington nearly $120,000.
The case was investigated by Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) investigators and prosecutors working with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
TDI prosecutor Rick Watson said they’ve identified eight former players in Harris County in connection with the scheme as well as a Houston athletic trainer.
“The players would submit false claims to the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan for medical treatments that were never actually performed,” said Watson. “When the plan reimbursed for those expenses, they would give a portion to the trainer.”
Watson is a TDI employee who works in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as a special prosecutor focusing on insurance fraud.
Slaughter was a former offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders. Washington was a cornerback who also spent time with the Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.
Both men pleaded guilty to third-degree felonies and must repay the money that was taken. They’ll each serve five years’ probation.
You can report suspected insurance fraud by calling TDI at 800-252-3439.
Source: TDI