By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Video
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 28 – 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." It was been assigned to SDNY District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
On October 28, Judge Caproni held a proceeding including Anthony Wroten. Inner City Press covered it. Wroten wants to play in China for the Whales - there a team, the Blue Wales of Sichuan - but to do so he must waive extradition, and have his children turn in their passports and/or not apply for any travel documents.
And, Judge Caproni said, he must come straight back to the US after the All Star Game, or World Series - she laughed, and said, playoffs. The case is pushed back until May 2, 2022 and can even then be by phone, she said. Inner City Press will stay on it.
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)
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