Eighteen former NBA players arrested by federal authorities in alleged health care scamGlen "Big Baby" Davis, who won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics, and former high school sensation Sebastian Telfair are among the defendants.

Eighteen former NBA players were charged with attempting to defraud the NBA's Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of nearly $4 million, officials said Thursday.

The defendants include Terrence Williams, Alan Anderson, Anthony Allen, Shannon Brown, William Bynum, Ronald Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Melvin Ely, Jamario Moon, Darius Miles, Milton Palacio, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Gregory Smith, Sebastian Telfair, Charles Watson Jr., Antoine Wright and Anthony Wroten.

Allen's wife, Desiree Allen, was also named as a defendant. They each face counts of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud. By midday Thursday, 16 of the 18 former players had been taken into custody, officials said.

Eighteen former NBA players were charged with attempting to defraud the NBA's Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of nearly $4 million, officials said Thursday.

The defendants include Terrence Williams, Alan Anderson, Anthony Allen, Shannon Brown, William Bynum, Ronald Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Melvin Ely, Jamario Moon, Darius Miles, Milton Palacio, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Gregory Smith, Sebastian Telfair, Charles Watson Jr., Antoine Wright and Anthony Wroten.

Allen's wife, Desiree Allen, was also named as a defendant. They each face counts of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud. By midday Thursday, 16 of the 18 former players had been taken into custody, officials said.

Former NBA basketball player Sebastian Telfair, right, departs Manhattan Federal Court on Oct. 7, 2021.Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / AP

"The defendants' playbook involved fraud and deception," Audrey Strauss, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, told reporters. "They will have to answer for their flagrant violations of law."

Strauss said Williams, 34, a Seattle native who spent four seasons in the NBA, was the "scheme's linchpin," submitting false claims to the league's health care plan.