The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat were taken into custody on Thursday, along with over 30 others, in connection with two separate cases involving elaborate criminal schemes aimed at making millions of dollars by manipulating sports bets and poker games associated with Mafia organizations, according to authorities.
Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Portland team, has been accused of involvement in a conspiracy to manipulate high-stakes card games in various locations like Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons, which were allegedly supported by organized crime families like La Cosa Nostra. On the other hand, Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, is implicated in a distinct scheme to create deceptive bets by exploiting privileged information about NBA players.
The indictments unveiled in New York have cast a shadow over the NBA, which recently commenced its season, highlighting the susceptibility of certain types of bets to extensive fraud within the rapidly expanding multi-billion-dollar legal sports betting sector. Joseph Nocella, the leading federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York, labeled it as “one of the most audacious sports corruption plots since online sports betting gained widespread legalization in the United States.”
Addressing the defendants who were apprehended, Nocella asserted, “Your winning streak is over. Your good fortune has come to an end.” Both individuals are facing charges of money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy and were set to appear in court later that day. Damon Jones, a former NBA assistant coach and player, has also been charged for his alleged involvement in both illegal activities.
FBI director Kash Patel expressed astonishment at the extent of the fraud, emphasizing that it involved millions of dollars over several years of investigation. Despite the alleged fraud, the financial gains of the implicated athletes during their careers far outweighed it. Billups, a recent inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, amassed around $106 million in earnings over his 17-year career, while Rozier earned approximately $160 million during his tenure in Boston, Miami, and Charlotte.
Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave by their respective teams as the NBA collaborates with law enforcement authorities to address the situation. Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, refuted the gambling allegations, stressing that his client is not a gambler and is prepared to defend himself. Trusty criticized the authorities for their handling of the situation, questioning the manner in which Rozier was taken into custody.
Furthermore, the court proceedings unveiled details of the illegal poker games, where unsuspecting gamblers were reportedly duped out of millions of dollars through rigged games involving former professional basketball players. The operation allegedly involved various crime families in New York and included violent acts to ensure compliance and financial success.
Prosecutors sought to detain Mafia members and the main orchestrators of the poker scheme, while advocating for the release of Billups and Jones under strict bail conditions. In the sports betting scheme, Rozier and others are accused of manipulating NBA player information to influence betting outcomes. The indictments also highlighted instances of alleged game-fixing and fraudulent betting activities involving NBA players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Damian Lillard.
The NBA had previously conducted investigations involving Rozier, who was present but did not play in the season opener between the Heat and the Magic. The ongoing legal proceedings have raised concerns about the integrity of professional sports and the potential impact of corruption on the industry.