NBA Figures Arrested in Sports Betting and Illegal Gambling Investigation
Thursday.
A federal investigation has led to the arrests of several individuals connected to the NBA, including Portland Trail Blazers coach chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier. billups was arrested in Portland, Oregon, while Rozier was taken into custody in Orlando, Florida. Former NBA player Damon Jones was also arrested as part of the investigation.
The arrests stem from two separate federal criminal cases. The first involves a sports betting ring allegedly utilizing non-public data to place bets – including prop bets on individual player performance – on games involving the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors. Prosecutors allege the defendants profited considerably, wiht successful bets resulting in potential losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars.The second case centers on illegal, high-stakes poker games operated by individuals with ties to organized crime.
A total of thirty-one people are facing charges in the poker case, with some defendants allegedly connected to the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Luchei crime families.Jones was arrested in connection to both schemes.Rozier’s arrest is linked to the sports betting ring, while Billups is connected to the illegal poker operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as an ”unusual” and “coordinated takedown across 11 states.” Charges in both cases include wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella detailed the sophisticated cheating methods employed in the poker games, including altered self-shuffling machines that transmitted card information to an off-site operator, who then relayed it to a “quarterback” at the table. This information was then allegedly signaled to other players to gain an unfair advantage.
Prosecutors stated the investigation does not involve college basketball and remains ongoing.The defendants allegedly laundered their winnings through cash exchanges, shell companies, and cryptocurrency transfers.
the NBA has not yet issued a comment. this incident follows the earlier arrest of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas for allegedly operating an illegal gambling and poker ring in California.
