Ex-Football Star Gets 16 Years for $197M Fraud Scheme

A federal court delivered justice for thousands of elderly Americans and disabled veterans who were preyed upon in a $197 million fraud scheme.

Rufus French, once a star tight end at Ole Miss, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Friday for his role in flooding the country with unnecessary medical braces. The former athlete turned his talents in the wrong direction, working with overseas telemarketers to pressure vulnerable seniors into accepting orthotic braces they never wanted or needed.

The scheme was elaborate and cruel. Telemarketers would pressure elderly Americans to hand over their health information, then alter call recordings to make it sound like patients had agreed to receive the braces. French paid fraudulent companies for fake doctors' orders, often without the physicians ever meeting the patients.

But the Justice Department refused to let these crimes go unpunished. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald made the government's stance crystal clear: "If you target America's elderly, sick, or vulnerable and rob America's purse doing so, you will be targeted and brought to justice."

The Bright Side

This verdict represents more than just one criminal facing consequences. It shows that our justice system works to protect those who need it most.

French must pay nearly $111 million in restitution to his victims and forfeit roughly $17 million that authorities seized from bank accounts. That money will help offset the damage done to Medicare and, more importantly, to the people who were manipulated and deceived.

The case also highlights the dedication of fraud investigators who spend years building cases against complex criminal networks. These public servants work tirelessly to untangle schemes that span continents, tracking money trails and protecting taxpayers.

French's fall from grace is complete. The former First-team All-SEC tight end and 1998 unanimous All-American who played two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks will spend the next 16 years behind bars. His story serves as a powerful reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of past achievements.

America's most vulnerable citizens now have one less predator to worry about, and potential fraudsters have been put on notice that these crimes carry serious consequences.