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A prominent college football player was sentenced to 16 years in prison Friday for his role in a $197 million fraud scheme.
Rufus French participated in a years-long scheme in which he sold patient information and faked medical orders for braces that patients neither wanted nor needed.
“Driven by lies, bribery, and offshore telemarketers, this corrupt scheme preyed on seniors and disabled veterans to flood the country with unnecessary medical devices, and then billed taxpayers for it,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Control Division.
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Mississippi Rebels tight end Rufus French watches 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/All Sports)
“Today’s ruling makes clear that if you attack America’s elderly, sick or vulnerable, and in doing so, pickpocket America’s pocket, you will be attacked and brought to justice.”
The Justice Department said French worked with foreign telemarketers who pressured older Americans to provide their health information and accept unnecessary braces. Telemarketers altered call recordings to make it appear that patients had accepted the braces if they had not.
The French paid fraudulent companies to obtain signed medical orders, even though they often never interacted with patients.
Mississippi Rebels tight end Rufus French runs with the ball during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, on September 12, 1998. The Tigers defeated the Rebels 17-0. (Todd Warshaw/All Sports)
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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 bribes.
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 sack defended by Charlotte 49ers defensive back Treyveon McGee during the first quarter at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 6, 2025. (Jim Dedmon/Image 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 was not selected in the 1999 NFL Draft, but managed to play two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
