Former NBA Champion Latest to be Sentenced in $5M Fraud Case

The highest-profile former player yet has been sentenced in the NBA $5M benefits fraud case, following the 10-year prison sentence earlier handed out earlier to Terrence Williams as the ringleader. 

This time, former Boston Celtics NBA champion Tony Allen has been hit with a community service sentence with vigilant oversight, though he avoided prison. 

Former Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen became one of the NBA's highest-profile former players to be sentenced in the league's $5 million benefits scam Tuesday.

— Pete Brush (@PeteBrush) August 8, 2023

The 14-year veteran and 2004 first-round pick, Allen was a member of the Celtics' 2008 championship team. He had already paid back most of the $420,000 he illegally took before he was charged.

Allen was a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, and is in fact, considered one of the greatest defenders in NBA history. 

In delivering the sentencing, the judge told Allen, “You seem not quite to have found your footing after your basketball career has ended. You may need to think about having a new goal – something you can work towards every day.”

Allen was extremely contrite in accepting his sentence.

Allen, 41, gave a tearful apology in front of family and supporters. “I fully acknowledge my individual responsibility and I understand the gravity of my actions,” he said. "As a member of the NBA community I failed to uphold our core values.”

— Pete Brush (@PeteBrush) August 8, 2023

“I fully acknowledge my individual responsibility and I understand the gravity of my actions,” Allen said in a tearful apology. "As a member of the NBA community I failed to uphold our core values.” 

The scam saw several ex-players making alleged claims for fictitious medical and dental expenses, while pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases.