Ex-Piston Will Bynum sentenced to 18 months in prison for NBA insurance fraud

NEW YORK (AP) — Will Bynum, who played for the Detroit Pistons for six seasons, was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for his conviction in an NBA insurance fraud scandal.

Bynum, 41, of Bensenville, Illinois, was sentenced in federal court in Manhattan, where a jury convicted him in November of conspiring to make false statements in connection with NBA players receiving false dental care from the NBA Players' Health and Benefit Welfare Plan and provided medical information.

More than 20 people were convicted in the case, including many former NBA players.

Bynum, who averaged 8.1 points and 3.3 assists in 360 games over his career, was also ordered to forfeit $182,000 and pay $182,000 in restitution at his sentencing by Judge Valerie E. Caproni sentenced.

According to court documents, from 2018 to 2019, Bynum joined several other former NBA players, including Terrence Williams and Keyon Dooling, in the fraud scheme. Williams and Dooling, who pleaded guilty, have already been sentenced to 10 years and 30 months in prison, respectively.

Authorities said Bynum received fake invoices from another former NBA player purporting to show $200,000 in medical services Bynum received from a Los Angeles-area chiropractor, even though those services were never provided.

Bynum testified at the trial. Prosecutors said he committed perjury and obstructed justice.

In a press release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Bynum “lied to the jury under oath. His sentence is a clear warning that anyone who attempts to defraud and obstruct justice will face a prison sentence.”

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