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A prominent college football player was sentenced Friday to 16 years in prison for his role in a $197 million fraud scheme.
Rufus French participated in a year-long scheme in which he sold patient information and threw out doctors’ orders for braces that patients didn’t want or need.
“Fueled by lies, bribes and overseas telemarketers, this corrupt scheme preyed on senior citizens and disabled veterans to flood the country with unnecessary medical equipment — and then billed taxpayers for it,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Division.
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Tight end Rufus French of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during the game against the SMU Mustangs at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas on September 26, 1998. The Rebels defeated the Mustangs 48-41. (Todd Warshaw/Allsport)
“Today’s ruling makes it clear that if you target America’s elderly, sick or vulnerable — and rob America’s wallet by doing so — you will be targeted and brought to justice.”
The Justice Department said French worked with overseas telemarketers who pressured older Americans to provide their health information and agree to accept unnecessary braces. Telemarketers would alter call recordings to make it sound like patients agreed to the braces when they didn’t.
French paid fraudulent companies to get medical orders signed, even though they often never interacted with the patients.
Tight end Rufus French of the Mississippi Rebels runs with the football during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on September 12, 1998. The Tigers defeated the Rebels 17-0. (Todd Warshaw/Allsport)
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French was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to offer, pay, solicit and receive kickbacks.
He was also ordered to pay nearly $111 million in restitution and forfeit approximately $17 million that the government seized from bank accounts.
French’s son, Charleston, plays football for Bill Belichick at the University of North Carolina.
North Carolina Tar Heels running back Charleston French runs for yards after a catch defended by Charlotte 49ers defensive back Treyveon McGee in the first quarter at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, NC on September 6, 2025. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
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French starred at Ole Miss and was a two-time first-team All-SEC tight end – he was also a unanimous All-American in 1998.
He went undrafted in the 1999 NFL Draft, but managed to play two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
