Former NBA player Sebastian Telfair is due to begin a six-month federal prison term this Tuesday after falling short of his supervised-release obligations in a healthcare-fraud case.
The Brooklyn native, once a top high-school star, was among 18 ex-NBA players indicted in October 2021 for submitting false medical and dental claims to the league’s health plan.
Initially spared jail time, Telfair faced only probation and supervised release after pleading guilty in March 2023.
However, a June report revealed he did not complete required community service and neglected to check in with U.S. probation officials.
As a result, the court re-sentenced him this summer to six months behind bars.
In a video interview on Monday, Telfair urged former President Donald Trump to review his case and consider granting clemency.
He described the situation as deeply unfair, attributing it to a paperwork mix-up that derailed his compliance.
Reports say he feels he never intended harm and wants to remain focused on positive efforts, including writing a book to share his story.
If a pardon does not materialize, Telfair says he will proceed with his sentence, aiming to use the time to improve himself and get his life back on track.