NBA Stars Caught In Alleged Mafia Gambling Scandal
The sports world was rocked Thursday morning after authorities announced the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones.
The trio was among 31 people arrested in connection with a massive illegal sports gambling and fraud operation that reportedly has ties to the Mafia.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the bust marks “a historic takedown” of a long running scheme that involved both sports betting and game rigging.
“We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud,” Patel said during a press conference Thursday morning.
Details Of The Indictment
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella Jr., confirmed two separate but related indictments, one involving insider sports betting and another involving illegal poker games.
“The first indictment involves one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became legalized in the United States,” Nocella explained.
He added that NBA insiders allegedly used confidential information about player injuries and team decisions to place high stakes bets through online sportsbooks and casinos.
In the second case, 31 defendants, including several former professional athletes, are accused of using high tech cheating technology to rig underground poker games tied to the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families.
What Each NBA Figure Is Accused Of
Authorities allege that Chauncey Billups, 49, participated in high stakes poker games in Manhattan, Miami, Las Vegas, and the Hamptons, allegedly hosted by individuals connected to organized crime.
Terry Rozier, 31, was reportedly involved in game manipulation, including faking an injury in a March 2023 matchup to benefit a betting ring.
He’s also accused of leaking non public team information to gamblers.
Damon Jones, who previously played and coached for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is accused of placing insider bets using private information about player absences and game conditions.
NBA Commissioner Reacts
Just two days before the arrests, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and acknowledged growing concerns about the impact of sports betting on player integrity.
“We’ve asked some of our partners to pull back some of the prop bets,” Silver said, citing efforts to curb potential manipulation.
Now, those concerns have become an all too real headline.
What Happens Next?
With an investigation spanning 11 states and involving multiple organized crime families, this case could reshape how the NBA and other leagues handle sports betting partnerships and player conduct policies.
What do you think, Frens?
Were you shocked to see these names pop up in the indictment?
Drop down in the comments and share your thoughts!
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