SACRAMENTO - Marcus Buckley, 46, of Weatherford, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to two years in prison and ordered to pay over $1.58 million in restitution, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Buckley played professional football in the National Football League for seven seasons between 1993 and 2000 with the New York Giants. During this time, the Giants had workers’ compensation insurance coverage through Pennsylvania Manufacturer’s Association Insurance Group (PMA).
In 2006, Buckley filed a worker’s compensation claim against the Giants for cumulative stress injuries sustained while playing football, in part, in California. During the first week of November 2010, Buckley, the Giants, and PMA settled the Buckley claim for $300,000 pursuant to a “Compromise and Release” Agreement.
After Buckley’s claim had been settled, between late 2010 and June 2011, Buckley prepared and filed numerous requests for additional reimbursement under his claim. As part of these requests, Buckley prepared false invoices and statements from medical providers for medical services purportedly provided to him. Other times, Buckley prepared false credit collection notices from collection agencies purportedly seeking payment from Buckley from various medical providers for past due medical bills. Buckley transmitted the false invoices, statements and credit collection letters to his co-defendant, Kimberly Jones, who was a claims adjuster at Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. in its Sacramento office. Gallagher Bassett was a third-party administrator that managed, among other things, workers’ compensation claims in California on behalf of PMA. Jones was aware that Buckley was not entitled to additional reimbursement under his disability claim and that the submitted documentation and requests were false. Jones caused the issuance of Gallagher Bassett checks payable to Buckley, and Buckley ultimately received over $1,588,000 in funds to which he was not entitled.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Nunley found that Buckley engaged in a massive amount of fraud and caused serious reputational damage to the victim, Gallagher Bassett. Judge Nunley also said that Buckley’s actions were rooted in greed.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael M. Beckwith is prosecuting the case.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Jones faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss in the case, and a three-year term of supervised release. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
