Corey Bradford was one of eight ex-NFL players charged with submitting fake claims for rehab therapy by a Houston trainer, according to the Harris County DA.
HOUSTON — A former Houston Texans player has pleaded guilty in connection with a massive health insurance scam.
Corey Bradford was one of eight ex-NFL players from across the league who were charged in 2020. They were accused of submitting false claims for rehab therapy by a Houston trainer and pocketing the reimbursement money. Those claims totaled more than $720,000.
The Texas Department of Insurance investigation found Bradford submitted claims totaling more than $224,000 for medical treatments he never received.
Bradford was sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication, 60 hours of community service and was ordered to pay back the money.
The wide receiver played nine seasons in the NFL, including four with the Houston Texans from 2002-2005.
Another former Texan, Shantee Orr, pleaded guilty last year.
Former University of Houston player Jonathan Hadnot, Jr and trainer Louis Ray, the owner of Rehab Express in Houston, were also charged in the scandal.
Prosecutors said Ray created fraudulent invoices claiming he performed treatments on players from March 7, 2016 to November 2018. The players would then sign and submit forms to be reimbursed by the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Plan, a health-reimbursement account. The players also paid Ray for signing and verifying the fake invoices, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said.
Medical records show that 92 claims were submitted claiming reimbursements totaling $723,826 with Ray allegedly receiving payments totaling $112,972.
“Health insurance scams are insidious because that kind of fraud leads to higher premiums for everyone else,” prosecutor Rick Watson said. “Not only does it increase the rates, but it costs a lot of taxpayer money to investigate these.”
“This fund was created to help former players get medical services, and cheating the system means they were stealing from other players and former teammates,” DA KIm Ogg said in 2020. “Investigating and seeking justice for white-collar criminals takes time, effort and cooperation among agencies, and we want to thank them for uncovering this scheme.”