By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Video
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 25 – Former NBA player Sebastian Telfair and 17 others former players were named in an indictment unsealed on October 7 for defrauding the NBA health fund, in Telfair's case, for $350,000.
He nevertheless got a publicly funded lawyer. Inner City Press was there, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court and live tweeted it here:
(street video here)
The case is against 18 former NBA players "for defrauding the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of approximately $4,000,000."
One of the players, a former Net and Buck who attended University of Memphis, sought to not appear in person in SDNY, but was denied: "MEMO ENDORSEMENT denying [63] LETTER MOTION filed by Christopher Douglas-Roberts (8), addressed to Judge Valerie E. Caproni from Attorney Matthew D. Myers dated 10/21/2021 re: United States v. Williams.... The defendant has not yet quarantined the necessary two weeks to appear in person at the courthouse for the October 27, 2021 10:00am court date. We are asking that Mr. Douglas-Roberts be permitted to use the call-in service and appear remotely so as to not have to fly back to New York from Detroit just a week after having been here as well as to avoid any pandemic protocols for foreign travelers having to quarantine before entering the courthouse from his prior Mexico-New York trip on October 18, 2021. ENDORSEMENT: Application DENIED. The SDNY courthouse entry protocols permit Mr. Douglas-Roberts entry into the courthouse on October 27, 2021. If Mr. Douglas-Roberts is vaccinated, to enter the courthouse, he will have to show (i) the results of the COVTD-19 test that he used to enter the country; and (ii) a second test on day 4 after travel or if he did not test on day 4, then the result of a test taken as soon as possible after day 4. Mr. Douglas-Roberts may enter the courthouse while he is waiting for those second test results if he does not have them before October 27, 2021. If Mr. Douglas-Roberts is not vaccinated, to enter the courthouse, he will have to show (i) the results of the COVTD-19 test that he used to enter the country; and (ii) a second test on day 4 after travel or if he did not test on day 4, then the result of a test taken as soon as possible after day 4; and (iii) a test taken on October 25, 2021 or October 26, 2021, given that he will be traveling to New York from Detroit. Mr. Douglas-Roberts cannot enter the courthouse until he provides both (or all three) test results. He does not need to provide proof of quarantine, given that more than 7 days will have passed since his arrival. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Valerie E. Caproni on 10/22/2021)
From October 7: OK - ex NBA Sebastian Telfair @SDNYLIVE Magistrates court. He was arrested at 6:54 am. He is in gray sweater and COVID mask.
Telfair applies for and hets publicly funded lawyer, Ms Colson. Judge Parker: you are charged with defrauding NBA Health Plan for $350,000.
Colson: Not guilty.
US Attorney has agreed to free Telfair on $250,000 bond, 2 co-signers. Judge accepts it.
MagistrateJudge Parker: Mr. Telfair, ou'll be released today with condition to be met in 2 weeks. Speedy Trial Act time excluded to Oct 25 control date. Line up below.
Telfair walking away from photographers after court, photo by Matthew Russell Lee 10/7/21
The line up: Indictment charging TERRENCE WILLIAMS, ALAN ANDERSON, ANTHONY ALLEN, DESIREE ALLEN, SHANNON BROWN, WILLIAM BYNUM, RONALD GLEN DAVIS, CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, a/k/a “Supreme Bey,” MELVIN ELY, JAMARIO MOON, DARIUS MILES, MILTON PALACIO, RUBEN PATTERSON, EDDIE ROBINSON, GREGORY SMITH, SEBASTIAN TELFAIR, CHARLES WATSON JR., ANTOINE WRIGHT, and ANTHONY WROTEN with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud the National Basketball Associations (“NBA’s”) Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of nearly $4,000,000. TERRENCE WILLIAMS is also charged with aggravated identity theft in connection with the same scheme. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
The positions: WILLIAMS and WROTEN will be presented in the Western District of Washington. DAVIS will be presented in the Central District of California. SMITH will be presented in the Eastern District of California. PATTERSON will presented in the Northern District of Ohio. MOON will be presented in the Northern District of Alabama. BYNUM and ELY will be presented in the Northern District of Illinois. MILES will be presented in the Middle District of Florida. ANDERSON, WATSON, and WRIGHT will be presented in the District of Nevada. BROWN will be presented in the Northern District of Georgia. DESIREE ALLEN will be presented in the Western District of Tennessee. TELFAIR will be presented in the Southern District of New York before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. ANTHONY ALLEN, DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, SMITH and ROBINSON remain at large
The case is US v. Williams, et al., 21-cr-603 (Caproni)
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
