The Latest: Pro soccer team reviewing analyst’s guilty pleas

NEWARK, N.J. – The Latest on TV soccer analyst who admitted accepting kickbacks for filling unneeded prescriptions for himself and recruiting others to the scheme (all times local):

4:15 p.m.

An official with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union says the team is aware that a TV analyst has pleaded guilty to receiving nearly $500,000 in kickbacks for filling unneeded prescriptions for himself and recruiting others to the scheme.

Tim McDermott, the Union’s chief business officer, said the team learned Tuesday that Peter Pappas had pleaded guilty.

McDermott says the team is now gathering information and “evaluating the facts as it relates to the case.” He says the team will “take the appropriate action” once its review is complete.

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2:50 p.m.

A TV analyst for Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union has pleaded guilty to receiving nearly $500,000 in kickbacks for filling unneeded prescriptions for himself and recruiting others to the scheme.

Peter Pappas pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit health fraud in federal court in Newark. The pharmaceutical salesman from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania admitted he was recruited by a marketing company that was paid by pharmacies to refer people whose insurance paid for compounded medication including pain creams, scar creams and vitamins.

Pappas admitted that he recruited others to join the scheme, including people using a health benefit program for service members and their families managed by the U.S. Department of Defence.

The former goalkeeper on the defunct Philadelphia Kixx indoor soccer team has been the Union’s TV analyst since 2013. He is a district sales manager for New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company Celgene, according to his LinkedIn page.