Another former Houston Texan pleaded guilty to health insurance fraud for former NFL players.

HOUSTON. The former Houston Texans player pleaded guilty to a massive health insurance scam.

Corey Bradford was one of eight former NFL players from across the league who were indicted in 2020. They were accused of making false claims about rehab therapy by a Houston coach and embezzling compensation payments. These claims amounted to more than $720,000.

An investigation by the Texas Insurance Department found that Bradford filed claims totaling more than $224,000 for medical treatment he never received.

Bradford was sentenced to 10 years’ suspended sentence, 60 hours of community service and ordered to return the money.

The wide receiver played nine seasons in the NFL, including four seasons with the Houston Texans from 2002 to 2005.

Another former Texan, Shanti Orr, pleaded guilty last year.

Former University of Houston player Jonathan Hadnot Jr. and coach Louis Ray, owner of the Rehab Express in Houston, were also blamed for the scandal.

Prosecutors said Ray created fraudulent accounts that claimed he treated players from March 7, 2016 to November 2018. Players then signed and submitted NFL Player Gene Upshaw’s Plan Reimbursement Forms, Medical Reimbursement Account. The players also paid Ray to sign and verify fake bills, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s office.

Medical records show that 92 reimbursement claims totaling $723,826 were filed, with Ray allegedly receiving payments totaling $112,972.

“Health insurance fraud is insidious because such fraud leads to higher insurance premiums for everyone else,” said Attorney Rick Watson. “This not only increases the stakes, but also requires a lot of taxpayer money to investigate them.”

• Corey Bradford: charged with felony second-degree enforcement of a document by deceit for allegedly receiving checks in excess of $150,000 and less than $300,000. Bradford, 44, was a wide receiver for the Houston Texans from 2002 to 2005.
• Shanti Orr: Charged with felony third-degree enforcement of a document by deception for allegedly receiving checks in excess of $30,000 and less than $150,000. Orr was a linebacker for the Houston Texans from 2003 to 2007.
• Jonathan Rex Hadnot Jr.: Charged with felony third-degree enforcement of a document by deception for allegedly receiving checks in excess of $30,000 and less than $150,000. The 38-year-old Lufkin native played college football at the University of Houston before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
• Clint Ingram: Charged with felony third-degree enforcement of a document by deception for allegedly receiving checks for more than $30,000 and less than $150,000. The 37-year-old Hallsville, Texas native played linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints.
• Chadwick Slaughter: Charged with felony third-degree enforcement of a document by deception for allegedly receiving checks in excess of $30,000 and less than $150,000. The 42-year-old Dallas native played offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders.
• James Adkisson: Charged with felony third-degree enforcement of a document by deception for allegedly receiving checks in excess of $30,000 and less than $150,000. The 40-year-old tight end played two games for the LA Raiders in 2006 before being cut.
• Fabian Washington: Charged with felony third-degree enforcement of a document by deception for allegedly receiving checks in excess of $30,000 and less than $150,000. The 37-year-old played guard for the Oakland Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.
• Derrick Pope: charged with felony state prison enforcement of a document by deception for allegedly receiving checks in excess of $2,500 and less than $30,000. The 38-year-old Galveston native was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2004.

“This fund was set up 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 against white-collar workers takes time, effort and collaboration across agencies, and we want to thank them for bringing this scheme to light.”