Dr. Wahab, Probably Accepting New Patients

The salaries of NBA players, professional athletes, and elite doctors are unimaginable to most of the general population. Yet, for some, these multi-million-dollar salaries do not seem to be enough. Several ex-NBA players went so far as to enlist the help of their health providers to “doctor” fake invoices that could be submitted to the league’s health care plan.[1]

Aamir Wahab worked with various ex-NBA players to try and swindle an estimated $1.1 million from the NBA Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.[2] Wahab, who earns a robust salary as a dentist, also profited from the scheme.[3] Wahab plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in March of 2023.[4] Prosecutors have requested that Wahab be sentenced to at least 33-months in prison for his role in the scheme.[5]

The NBA fraud is not the only time Wahab has engaged in and profited from criminal conduct. From June 2016 to August 2018, Wahab stole about $2.3 million in the names of fake identities pretending to be his clients.[6] Wahab was convicted of grand theft for these crimes in California state court.[7]

Wahab is requesting a below-guidelines sentence and has stated that he is remorseful for his actions.[8] He submitted character letters to the court and has said that any time away from his wife and young children, including an autistic son, will be to the detriment of his family.[9]

Wahab was not alone in this over $5 million scheme. He and 23 others were charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.[10] The three ringleaders of the scheme – ex-NBAers Terrence Williams, Keyon Dooling, and Alan Anderson – received jail time.[11] Williams, a former New Jersey Nets player, was sentenced to 10-years in prison, had to forfeit over $650,000, and paid $2.5 million in restitution.[12] Other players include Shannon Brown, Tony Allen, Sebastian Telfair, and Glen Davis.[13]

Aside from the former players, Patrick Khaziran, a chiropractor, was sentenced to 30-months in prison and William Washington, a physician, plead guilty last month.[14]

It will be interesting to see how Wahab is sentenced. He has a criminal past for similarly dishonest crimes which could raise questions as to his remorsefulness. The fact that others in the scheme have been given prison sentences, combined with Wahab’s past, might lead one to expect some jail time for him. Yet, Wahab’s family situation may appeal to a judge.

This plot gives the average person a peek behind the curtain of the lives of the elite. It also raises larger questions about the role of money in professional sports. While this scheme to defraud the NBA’s healthcare plan of nearly $5.5 million is immense, it certainly could have been worse. It causes one to wonder if similar practices are happening in other sports and leagues.

Wahab is set to be sentenced on October 25th.

Image Credit: Dr. Aamir Wahab Website

[1] https://www.law360.com/sports-and-betting/articles/1732492/feds-want-prison-for-dentist-in-nba-health-care-fraud

[2] Id; https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-charges-against-doctor-dentist-and-former-nba-player-defrauding

[3] https://www.law360.com/sports-and-betting/articles/1732492/feds-want-prison-for-dentist-in-nba-health-care-fraud

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-charges-against-doctor-dentist-and-former-nba-player-defrauding; https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/ringleader-nba-health-care-fraud-gets-10-years-prison-2023-08-03/