Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups Pleads Not Guilty in Poker Schemeโ Case
BROOKLYN, NY – Former NBA โฃstar Chauncey Billups entered a plea of โฃnot guilty Monday to two federal charges related to an alleged rigged poker game scheme with ties โคto the Mafia. The arraignment took place โคat a Brooklyn courthouse following Billups’ arrest last month โas part of a 31-defendant indictment.
Billups was released โon a โ$5 million bond, secured by hisโฃ Coloradoโฃ home and co-signed by his wife and daughter, who were present in court to offer โsupport. Dressed in a gray suit and white shirt, the Hall โฃof โขFamer spoke only a handful of โคwords during the two-hour proceeding, primarily responding “yes” to questions from the judge.
Also appearing in court was Damon Jones, another defendant named in โthe indictment. While both men are accused of acting as “lures” – โattracting potential victims to the games – their current legal positions differ. Jones, whoโข also faces charges related toโ illegal sports gambling on NBA โgames, was released onโ a $200,000 bond and is represented by a court-appointed attorney. Billups has retained prominent trial lawyer Marc Mukasey,โ previously counsel to President Donald Trump.
Federal prosecutors allege Billups participated in at leastโข two rigged poker games, receiving a $50,000 payment through an intermediary โคfollowing a 2020 game. Authorities have identified a total of 25 rigged games as part of the investigation. A prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s โฃOffice for the Eastern โDistrict of New York indicated that โplea negotiations are underway with some of the defendants.
Judge Ramon Reyes, overseeing the โขcase, โexpressed a desire for the proceedings to begin by September of next year, urging all parties to prepare accordingly.
Billups, who was โขplaced on unpaid leave by the NBAโ last month following โhis arrest, is no longer โthe headโฃ coach of the Portland โTrail Blazers. โHe is next scheduled to appear in court on March 4, 2026, for a status hearing.
Leaving the courthouse surrounded by bodyguards, family, and his attorney, Billups did not address the assembled media. A passerbyโ on a bicycle called out to him, stating, “What’s โขup, Chauncey?โ The Blazers need you.”