Former NFL running back Clinton Portis was sentenced to six months in federal prison and an additional six months home confinement after pleading guilty to health care fraud, according to ESPN’s John Keim.
In a pre-sentence filing Thursday, the Department of Justice said it sought a sentence at the higher end of the recommended 10-to-16 month guideline, given Portis’ offense. The DOJ said it sought a longer sentence because Portis continued to deny his guilt until he faced a retrial following a hung jury. The filing also noted Portis did not pay back money to the plan until shortly before sentencing.
The 40-year old Portis was one of 15 former NFL players who defrauded the league’s healthcare benefit program with false claims totaling $2.9 million
Portis obtained nearly $100,000 by filing false claims for medical equipment.
He faced a maximum of 10 years in prison. However, the Department of Justice sought 10 to 16 months for Portis.
Former linebacker Robert McCune, who was a fifth-round draft pick in 2005 of Washington, orchestrated the ring, according to the DOJ. He pleaded guilty to 13 counts of health care fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
Joe Horn, Carlos Rogers, Correll Buckhalter, James Butler, Ceandris Brown, John Eubanks, Antwan Odom, Etric Pruitt, Darrell Reid, Anthony Montgomery, Frederick Bennett and Reche Caldwell, who was killed in 2020, all pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.
Clinton Portis spent nine seasons in the NFL after a stellar collegiate career at the University of Miami. He played his first two seasons with the Denver Broncos before being traded to the Washington Football Team in 2004 for Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey, where he played seven seasons in the Burgundy and Gold.
He amassed 9,923 rushing yards and 75 rushing touchdowns in his career.
