Following a federal investigation into two criminal schemes involving rigged poker games and sports betting operations purportedly supported by Mafia families, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested in New York on Thursday along with over 30 other people. Damon Jones, a former assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was also arrested.
According to federal prosecutors, the schemes included bogus sports wagers that leveraged insider knowledge from NBA circles, as well as card game manipulation in places like Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons.
According to investigators, millions of dollars were earned by abusing players' and teams' private information and employing sophisticated cheating techniques.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, extensive financial crimes were discovered during the probe.
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"The fraud is mind boggling. We're talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation. This is the insider-trading saga for the NBA," Patel was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
The 49-year-old Billups is charged with conspiring to rig high-stakes poker games. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024, he played for the Boston, Denver, Detroit, and Los Angeles Clippers throughout his 17 NBA seasons. In 2004, he was awarded MVP of the Finals.
In 2020, Billups, who was known as "Mr. Big Shot" during his playing days, made the move to coaching and was hired as Portland's head coach the next year.
His record was 117-211 going into this season, and he recently signed a multi-year deal.
The 30-year-old Rozier was charged in a different plot that involved using insider knowledge about NBA players and games to manipulate sports wagers. After playing for Charlotte after being selected by Boston in the 2015 NBA Draft, the guard was moved to Miami in 2024.
Since then, authorities looking into betting trends and online activity around player-specific wagers have taken notice of his performances in previous games, including one for Charlotte in March 2023.
Jones, 49, was accused of taking part in the two schemes. After an 11-year career that included 12 organizations, the former NBA player joined Cleveland's coaching staff in 2014. In addition, he has experience in broadcasting and player development.
Charges against all three include conspiracy, wire fraud, and unlawful gambling. More information regarding court appearances and bail requirements are awaited and as of now, neither the NBA nor the participating teams have released official statements.
As police continue to examine emails, betting information, and financial transactions connected to the purported enterprises, the inquiry is still ongoing.
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