Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, a former NBA player and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to charges of allegedly benefiting from fixed poker games involving Mafia individuals and another ex-NBA player. Billups, a five-time all-star and champion with the Detroit Pistons, faced arraignment in a federal court in Brooklyn on accusations of money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, each carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors claimed that Billups participated in a plot to manipulate illicit poker games supported by organized crime in various locations such as Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami, and the Hamptons. Other defendants were accused of managing an illegal gambling enterprise, robbery conspiracy, and extortion conspiracy. Plea discussions have commenced with some defendants, although their identities were not disclosed.
U.S. District Court Judge Ramon Reyes expressed a desire to expedite the case for trial by September next year, urging legal representatives to proceed promptly. Billups, attired in a dark grey suit, responded solely to direct inquiries from the judge, with his attorney, Marc Mukasey, entering the plea. Both declined to provide comments following the hearing. In a previous statement, Billups’ legal team defended his integrity, emphasizing his denial of the charges leveled against him.
Released on a $5 million US bond secured by his family property in Colorado, the 49-year-old coach was ordered to refrain from gambling and avoid contact with co-defendants or alleged victims. He surrendered his passport and was restricted to travel within seven states, including Oregon, New York, and Washington, D.C. Billups, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame last year, stood out among more than 30 individuals implicated in a recent federal crackdown on illegal gambling networks associated with professional sports.
Moreover, former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones, along with others, faced charges related to the poker scandal and a separate scheme involving insider information for NBA betting, which also implicated Miami Heat player Terry Rozier. Prosecutors outlined that the poker manipulation allegedly utilized modified card-shuffling machines, covert cameras in chip trays, specialized glasses, and table-integrated X-ray devices to read cards, defrauding victims of an estimated $7 million since at least 2019.
Billups allegedly played a pivotal role as a celebrity attraction for affluent, unsuspecting players, with organizers reportedly texting during games to manipulate outcomes in his favor. Prosecutors alleged that Billups received a share of the illicit proceeds, including a $50,000 wire transfer following a rigged game in October 2020. Additionally, organizers purportedly had to provide a portion of their earnings to Mafia families such as Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno, in exchange for protection and debt collection services.
Throughout his NBA tenure, Billups amassed approximately $106 million before retiring in 2014 and transitioning to TV analysis before embracing coaching. Notably, he was selected as the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics after a standout college career with the Colorado Buffaloes. Billups played for 17 seasons across various teams, including the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Recognized for his clutch performances, especially during the Pistons’ 2004 championship run, Billups earned the moniker “Mr. Big Shot” and had his jersey retired by the Detroit franchise. Following his coaching appointment with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021 and subsequent contract extension, Billups faced unpaid leave post-arrest, with assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter assuming interim coaching duties.