Former Eagle Correll Buckhalter Headed To Prison For Role In Health Care Scam, Others Sentenced

Three former NFL players were sentenced for taking part in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme.

Correll Buckhalter, Anthony Montgomery and Darrell Reid were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

Buckhalter was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 10 months of house arrest plus three years probation — the most severe outcome of the three sentenced Monday.

Montgomery and Reid were credited for previous time served in jail and sentenced to six months of home detention plus three years probation.

Caldwell said during sentencing hearings held Monday she believed the three former NFL players had genuine regret for what they did but that she wanted to deter other people from thinking they can get away with fraud in the future, the outlet reports.

The scheme dates back to the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan in 2006, which gave tax-free reimbursements to health expenses not covered by insurance up to $350,000 per player.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that a handful of players took advantage of that fund to get reimbursed, and the scheme led to nearly $4 million in fraudulent claims being filed.

Correll Buckhalter of the Denver Broncos poses for his 2010 NFL headshot. Buckhalter was sentenced to 10 months in prison. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)

Buckhalter, a former Nebraska running back, was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

He played for the Eagles from 2001 to 2008, losing three of those seasons due to injury. Buckhalter went on to play for the Denver Broncos for two seasons — in 2009 and 2010 — before retiring.

Darrell Reid of the Denver Broncos poses for his 2010 NFL headshot. Reid and Montgomery received 10 months of house arrest for the crime. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)

Reid played college football at Minnesota and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

The outside linebacker/defensive end was part of the Colts' Super Bowl XLI winning team against the Chicago Bears.

Anthony Montgomery of the Washington Redskins poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day. Montgomery was one of the three former NFL players who were sentenced for defrauding the league’s healthcare program. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)

Montgomery, a defensive tackle who also played college football at Minnesota, was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

He played in 42 games for Washington, making 22 starts, but was released by the team in 2010.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the scheme was primarily orchestrated by former NFL player Robert McCune, who recruited others to join him in the operation. McCune and others submitted fraudulent claims for medical care or equipment that they didn’t pay for or receive.

McCune pleaded guilty in August and court documents show that he received $2.9 million in false claims. The 40-year-old is expected to be sentenced on Nov. 19 and could face up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire and healthcare fraud, OutKick's Nick Geddes previously reported.

In early September, former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis has pleaded guilty to the healthcare fraud scheme. He is expected to be sentenced in January 2022 and could face up to 10 years in prison.

Portis’ co-defendant is former NFL receiver Tamarick Vanover is reported to have recruited three other former players to make fraudulent claims. The 47-year-old also pleaded guilty and agreed to pay in full restitution, OutKick previously reported.

Unrelated to the healthcare fraud situation, a court ordered the arrest of Portis over unpaid child support in August.

Check back with OutKick for updates.

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