Former NBA Player William Bynum Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Making False Statements To The NBA Players’ Health And Welfare Benefit Plan

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that WILLIAM BYNUM was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to make false statements to the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan (the “Plan”).  On November 15, 2023, BYNUM was found guilty of conspiring to make false statements relating to health care matters following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who imposed today’s sentence. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant took part in this broad criminal scheme targeting a health care benefit plan.  He also took the stand at trial and lied to the jury while under oath.  His sentence stands as a stark warning that prison time awaits any who seek to defraud and obstruct justice.”

According to the Indictment, trial testimony and exhibits, public court filings, and statements made in court:

The Plan is a health care plan providing benefits to eligible active and former players of the NBA.  BYNUM is a former NBA basketball player who was eligible to obtain reimbursement for certain eligible health care expenses from the Plan.

From at least in or about 2018, up to and including at least in or about 2019, BYNUM participated in a scheme with several other former NBA players, including Terrence Williams and Keyon Dooling, to defraud the Plan.  In late 2018, Terence Williams sent BYNUM fake invoices that purported to relate to $200,000 in medical services BYNUM received at a Los Angeles-area chiropractor.  In reality, BYNUM had not received these services and the invoices were false.  BYNUM submitting these false claims to the Plan, seeking reimbursement.  The Plan reimbursed BYNUM for the majority of his false claims.

BYNUM and his co-defendant Ronald Glen Davis proceeded to trial in November 2023.  During the course of the trial, BYNUM took the stand in his own defense.  During the course of his trial testimony, BYNUM committed perjury and obstructed justice.

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In addition to his prison term, BYNUM, 41, of Bensenville, Illinois, was ordered to forfeit $182,224.09 and pay restitution of $182,224.09.

Williams and Dooling previously pled guilty and were sentenced to 10 years and 30 months in prison, respectively.  Davis was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, health care fraud, and conspiring to make false statements relating to health care matters and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution.