ANKARA

Eighteen former NBA players were charged Thursday in a health care fraud scheme.

The players are charged with defrauding the Association’s health and welfare benefit plan which is around $4 million, according to an indictment by a Manhattan federal court.

The lawsuit alleges that the players submitted false and fraudulent claims from 2017 to 2020 in exchange for reimbursement for medical and dental expenses that never occurred.

Players charge include former NBA champions, Glen Davis of the 2008 Boston Celtics; Shannon Brown, who won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010; and Melvin Ely won helped the San Antonio Spurs win the title in 2007.