GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE – Chiropractor Patrick ‘Dr. Pat’ Khaziran has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his involvement in a scheme that defrauded the National Basketball Association’s (‘NBA’) Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of $1.3 million.
Khaziran, who was also known as Dr. Pat, used his position as a licensed chiropractor to generate fraudulent invoices for at least 22 former NBA players. These documents falsely claimed that the players had received medical services, which in reality were never provided. In addition, Khaziran charged the Plan-issued debit cards of these players for non-existent services.
The scheme resulted in significant losses for the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, totaling approximately $1.3 million. Khaziran personally profited from his participation in the scheme, receiving around 33% of the total fraud proceeds – roughly $439,000. The remaining funds were kept by the former NBA players who were involved in the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the severity of Khaziran’s actions: ‘As a medical provider, Patrick Khaziran had a responsibility not to abuse his position of trust. Instead, he used his role as a licensed chiropractor to enrich himself and his co-conspirators at the expense of the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.’
In addition to his prison term, Khaziran, 40, from Los Angeles, California, was ordered to forfeit $439,000 and pay restitution of $1,300,000. The investigation into this case was praised by Mr. Williams, who highlighted the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel and Daniel G. Nessim in charge. Former NBA players Terrence Williams and Keyon Dooling have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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