A California dentist was recently sentenced to three years in prison for his participation in a scheme to defraud the NBA Players' Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.
Aamir Wahab, DDS, of Beverly Hills, Calif., was charged in April 2022 with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud. From about 2018 to about 2019, he provided fake invoices for dental services that were not rendered to the plan that provides benefits to current and former NBA players. Former NBA players would then allegedly submit the invoices to the plan for reimbursement.
Dr. Wahab also charged the plan-issued debit cards of former NBA players that were intended to be used by plan participants to pay for eligible medical services. Dr. Wahab received a portion of the fraud proceeds in return for his participation in the scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said Dec. 20.
In addition to his prison term, Dr. Wahab was ordered to forfeit $458,576.50 and pay $1,192,522 in restitution.