Basketball fans were shocked last week to learn that former NBA star Terrence Williams was sentenced to 10 years behind bars.

According to the Daily Caller, Williams's sentence was handed down last Thursday as a result of his role in a $5 million health care fraud operation.

Scheme targeted health plan for NBA players and their families

The scheme ran between 2017 and 2021 and targeted the NBA's Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, which provides benefits to NBA players as well as their families.

"You were yet another player who frittered away substantial earnings from the period of time when you were playing basketball professionally," Judge Valerie E. Caproni was quoted as saying, adding, "You should have had enough money to be set for life, but you don’t."

In addition to sending Williams to prison, the federal judge went on to order that he forfeit $653,672.55 and pay $2,500,000 worth of restitution.

Ex-Nets player Terrence Williams sentenced to 10 years in prison for health care fraud https://t.co/QPK9rB4rSE pic.twitter.com/hra2RS0n59

— New York Post (@nypost) August 3, 2023

Comparisons drawn between Williams and Brett Favre welfare scandal

Meanwhile, some Twitter users questioned the fairness of Williams' sentence by comparing his treatment to that of former NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

Terrence Williams got 10 years in prison and I’m still waiting on Brett Favre to be dealt with for stealing welfare funds

— kayla 🏵 (@kaylaburch28) August 4, 2023

CBS Sports reported in May that Favre has been accused of playing a role in Mississippi's largest-ever public corruption case.

Specifically, Favre is alleged to have requested funds in 2017 from then-Mississippi Republican Gov. Phil Bryant for a new volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi.

CBS Sports noted that Favre graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and his daughter was playing volleyball there at the time.

Favre has yet to be criminally charged but faces civil lawsuit

What's more, the money came from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which is designed to help families living in poverty.

Brett Favre: Will the media find out that we're using welfare funds intended to help the poorest residents of America's poorest state to build a volleyball center?

Nancy New: Nah. Oh yeah, the governor is fully on board!@ayewolfe five years later: https://t.co/rWXHRXISsu pic.twitter.com/wo3QuIYXaY

— Adam Ganucheau (@GanucheauAdam) September 13, 2022

For his part, Favre has denied wrongdoing. While he has yet to be criminally charged, the former football star has become the focus of a lawsuit relating to the scandal.