Former Saints WR Joe Horn Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Healthcare Program for NFL Retirees

Right around the 16th anniversary of his infamous cell phone celebration during a New Orleans Saints-New York Giants Monday Night Football matchup, things are not looking good for former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn.

The 47-year-old was previously named by the US Department of Justice as part of healthcare fraud scheme, though he was not among 10 players who were initially charged. Now, he's pleaded guilty in federal court in Kentucky.

Horn confessed to seeking reimbursement from a fund established for ex-NFL players, the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Healthcare Plan, for medical equipment valued at $50,000 that he never actually received. According to his plea agreement, Horn submitted nearly $150,000 worth of false or fraudulent claims.

According to the Justice Deparment, Horn and the other implicated players submitted a total of more than $3.9 million in phony claims between June 2017 and Dec. 2018.

Horn will be sentenced in April and he faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible fine ranging between $250,000 and $300,000, but considering that he's cooperating with authorities as part of his plea deal, he's likely to see significant reductions from those potential penalties.