Report: Former Jazz G Milt Palacio Indicted For Insurance Fraud

Oct 7, 2021, 10:26 AM | Updated: 10:33 am

Former Utah Jazz guard Milt Palacio (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Jazz Milt Palacio has been incited for his part in an insurance fraud scheme that includes several retired NBA players according to NBC New York.

The outlet reported that Palacio is one of 18 former players charged with defrauding the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan by submitting false medical and dental claims for reimbursement.

“According to the grand jury indictment, the defendants allegedly engaged in a widespread scheme from at least 2017 up to around 2020 to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan by submitting fake reimbursement claims for medical and dental services that were never actually rendered,” the station reported.

BREAKING: 18 former NBA players have been arrested and charged federally for defrauding the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of approximately $4,000,000, law enforcement officials say.

Reported by @jonathan4ny
and me.

— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) October 7, 2021

The scheme was set up and orchestrated by former lottery pick Terrence Williams who recruited fellow retired NBA players on the league’s health plan by offering them fake medical invoices for phony claims.

Williams would then receive a kickback from the money reimbursed to the players.

“Those allegedly fraudulent claims totaled about $3.9 million, from which the defendants got about $2.5 million in fraudulent proceeds, the indictment alleges,” NBC New York reported.

Palacio played seven seasons in the NBA, including the final year of his career with the Jazz.

The guard appeared in 71 games for the Jazz including 18 starts and averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in just over 19 minutes per game.

Blazers announce staff of coach Chauncey Billups: Scott Brooks, Roy Rogers, Steve Hetzel, Ednisha Curry and Milt Palacio. Parker Hines will be video coordinator.

— Jason Quick (@jwquick) August 2, 2021

After retiring, Palacio has served as a coach with the University of Idaho, in the G League, and in August was hired by Chauncey Billups to serve as an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers.