Quick Read
- Former Ole Miss standout Rufus French was sentenced to 16 years and four months in federal prison for a $197 million healthcare fraud scheme.
- French used eight medical supply companies to bill Medicare and CHAMPVA for unnecessary orthopedic braces, often targeting elderly victims with dementia.
- The court ordered French to pay over $110 million in restitution and forfeit approximately $17 million in assets linked to the illegal operation.
OXFORD (Azat TV) – Former University of Mississippi football standout Rufus French was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison on May 8 for his role in a sprawling $197 million healthcare fraud scheme. The sentencing, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, concludes a high-profile case involving the exploitation of elderly Americans and disabled veterans.
The scope of the Rufus French fraud scheme
Prosecutors confirmed that French, 47, operated eight durable medical equipment supply companies used to facilitate the elaborate fraud. According to the Justice Department, the scheme involved colluding with overseas telemarketing call centers to target vulnerable populations, including individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Victims were pressured into accepting unnecessary orthopedic braces, and in several instances, call recordings were manipulated to falsely suggest patient consent.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that French billed Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) for equipment that was never needed or requested. In particularly egregious cases, the companies billed for braces for amputees for limbs they did not possess and for individuals who were already deceased. To conceal his involvement, French utilized fraudulent documentation to hide his ownership of the supply companies from federal oversight.
Financial penalties and legal consequences
Beyond the 196-month prison term, the court ordered French to pay $110,753,619 in restitution. Additionally, federal authorities have moved to forfeit approximately $17 million in assets seized from his accounts. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division stated that the scheme was fueled by lies and bribes, emphasizing that the sentence serves as a warning to those who target the sick and vulnerable for financial gain.
From gridiron success to federal conviction
French was a celebrated athlete during his tenure at Ole Miss from 1996 to 1998, earning unanimous All-American honors in his final season. Despite his collegiate success, his professional career saw brief stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers before he exited the sport. His conviction in February on charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering marks a definitive end to his public life as a sports figure, shifting the focus to his role as the architect of one of the most significant healthcare fraud operations in recent years.
The severity of the sentence reflects a broader federal crackdown on the systematic targeting of government healthcare programs, signaling a shift toward aggressive prosecution when elderly beneficiaries are used as conduits for multi-million dollar illicit billing operations.