The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a Miami Heat player were taken into custody on Thursday, alongside over 30 others, in connection with two separate cases involving alleged elaborate criminal activities aimed at generating millions of dollars through fixing sports bets and poker games associated with Mafia groups, authorities revealed.
Portland coach Chauncey Billups was accused of participating in a plot to manipulate high-stakes card games in various locations like Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons, which were supported by La Cosa Nostra organized crime syndicates. Meanwhile, Heat guard Terry Rozier was implicated in a distinct scheme focused on creating fraudulent bets by exploiting insider knowledge about NBA athletes.
The indictments unveiled in New York pose a significant challenge for the NBA, which just commenced its season, highlighting the susceptibility of certain wager types to extensive fraud within the burgeoning multi-billion-dollar legal sports betting sector. Joseph Nocella, the lead federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York, described it as “one of the most audacious sports corruption schemes since the widespread legalization of online sports betting in the United States.”
Addressing the defendants, Nocella stated, “Your winning streak has come to an end. Your luck has run out.” Both individuals are facing charges of money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy and were slated to appear in court later on Thursday. Damon Jones, a former NBA assistant coach and player, is also among those charged for allegedly partaking in both illicit operations.
FBI director Kash Patel remarked on the staggering scale of the fraud, emphasizing the multimillion-dollar losses incurred over several years. Despite the alleged fraud schemes, the wealth amassed by the athletes in their professional basketball careers far exceeded the illicit gains. Billups, a recent inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, earned approximately $106 million during his 17-year tenure, while Rozier accumulated around $160 million throughout his time with Boston, Miami, and Charlotte.
Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave by their respective teams, with the NBA affirming its cooperation with the ongoing investigations, underscoring its commitment to upholding the game’s integrity. Rozier’s legal representative, Jim Trusty, refuted the gambling allegations against his client, emphasizing Rozier’s innocence and readiness to contest the accusations. Trusty criticized the authorities for their handling of the situation, decrying the perceived lack of fairness in the arrest process and its negative impact on Rozier’s career.
Furthermore, the intricate poker scheme orchestrated by the defendants involved defrauding unsuspecting gamblers of millions of dollars by manipulating rigged games that featured former professional basketball players like Billups and Jones. The fraudulent activities extended to illegal poker games orchestrated by New York crime families, necessitating profit-sharing with prominent crime syndicates and involving violent acts to ensure debt repayment and operational success. Prosecutors are seeking the detention of implicated Mafia members and scheme ringleaders, while advocating for stringent bail conditions for Billups and Jones, including restrictions on gambling and travel.
In the sports betting aspect of the case, Rozier and accomplices are alleged to have leveraged private NBA information to influence wager outcomes, with instances of players modifying their performance to manipulate prop bets. Notably, Rozier’s actions during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in 2023 raised suspicions, as he exited early due to an alleged injury, facilitating substantial wagers. The indictments also reference unnamed NBA players whose injury status and game participation were exploited for betting purposes, though these players are not accused of any wrongdoing.
The NBA had previously probed Rozier’s activities, with the player present during a game between the Heat and the Magic in Orlando, where he did not participate. Approximately 20 other defendants involved in the case appeared in court, with many pleading not guilty, while those linked to violent crimes or organized crime backgrounds were remanded in custody. The indictments shed light on the intricate web of deceit and criminality that permeated the sports betting and poker schemes, underscoring the pervasive nature of fraud within the industry.