A former NBA player who was convicted for his role in defrauding the NBA’s benefits plan by submitting $4 million in false dental and medical claims is asking President Donald Trump for a pardon, according to multiple news stories.
Sebastian Telfair, formerly of the Los Angeles Clippers and one of 18 NBA players convicted in the dental and medical scheme, sought a pardon after reporting on August 12 to the Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix. Telfair is scheduled to serve six months in U.S. prison for violating the community service clause of his parole in the fraud case.
Telfair, 40, has requested that Trump pardon him so that he doesn't have to be away from his 3-year-old child.
Other players convicted with Telfair include former Washington Wizards player William Bynum, former New Jersey Nets player and purported ringleader of the scam Terrence Williams, and former NBA player and Utah Jazz Assistant Coach Keyon Dooling.
During his first and second terms, Trump has issued pardons to celebrities, including rapper NBA YoungBoy, who was sentenced over U.S. gun charges, and reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were sentenced on bank fraud charges.
Recently, Trump has discussed possibly pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker who was associated with Jeffrey Epstein, and rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.
