Former NFL running back Clinton Portis was sentenced Thursday to six months in federal prison and six months of home detention after pleading guilty in September to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, part of a scheme involving more than a dozen ex-NFL players.
Portis, 40, signed a plea agreement just a few days after the conclusion of his criminal trial in a U.S. District Court in Kentucky, in which the jury could not agree on a verdict.
As part of his plea agreement, Portis admitted to participating in a nationwide scheme in which ex-NFL players filed fraudulent reimbursement claims with the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan, which allows former players to seek funds for out-of-pocket medical care that is not covered by insurance.
Portis, who played nine seasons in the NFL from 2002 through 2010, reports to prison in March.
According to court records, Portis allowed Robert McCune, a former NFL linebacker, to submit reimbursement claims on his behalf for an oxygen chamber and a cryosauna. Portis received $99,264 from the NFL's plan but never purchased the equipment.
"Portis knew the claims McCune submitted on his behalf were false and fraudulent or was aware of a high probability that that the claims McCune submitted on his behalf were false and fraudulent and deliberately ignored that fact," the plea agreement read.
His crime carried a maximum penalty of 10 years.
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