The FBI's Oct. 24 arrests of NBA coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player Damon Jones have expanded the gambling scandal with new allegations. Prosecutors now allege that Rozier not only faked an injury during a March 23, 2023, game against the New Orleans Pelicans but also met with his childhood friend approximately one week after the game to "count the money" from their betting profits 
. The scheme involved Rozier informing his friend he would exit the game early, enabling the group to place over $200,000 in bets on his underperformance 
. Rozier played only 9 minutes and scored 5 points, far below his season average of 35 minutes and 21 points per game . The bets paid out, netting the conspirators thousands of dollars .
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Rozier's career was "effectively ended not by injury, but by dishonesty" . Rozier was arrested at a hotel in Orlando, Florida, after the Heat's season opener, where he did not play due to a coaching decision 
. He was released after posting bail and surrendering his passport, with a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 8 in New York 
.
Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, is now accused of selling confidential health information about Los Angeles Lakers players, including LeBron James, to bettors before a February 2023 game 
. Prosecutors allege Jones leaked that James would be unavailable or limited due to injury, enabling associates to place prop bets on the Lakers' performance . When the predicted outcomes did not materialize, the bettors suffered financial losses . Jones, 49, who played for ten NBA teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, was arrested on charges of providing insider information for illegal betting profits 
.
Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, faces charges related to a sophisticated poker fraud scheme linked to four of New York's five major mafia families—the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese 
. Prosecutors allege the operation used advanced technology, including X-ray tables, hidden cameras in card trays, rigged shuffling machines, and special contact lenses or glasses that allowed players to read marked cards 
. The scheme, which operated in luxury locations across Manhattan, the Hamptons, Las Vegas, and Miami, defrauded victims of at least $7 million . Billups and other former NBA players allegedly served as "celebrity bait" to lure high-profile targets into the rigged games . Those who lost money were threatened with extortion and violence to recover debts . Billups was arrested in Portland, Oregon, and released after posting bail, surrendering his passport, and agreeing to travel restrictions and no contact with other defendants 
. His attorney, Chris Heywood, stated that Billups has an "impeccable reputation" and would not risk his Hall of Fame legacy for a card game .
FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as "one of the most comprehensive gambling and fraud operations in recent years," calling it "the insider trading saga for the NBA" . U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella called it "one of the most brazen corruption scandals in sports history" . The investigation, which began in 2019 and spanned 11 states, resulted in the arrest of over 30 individuals, with six charged in the betting fraud case and 31 in the poker case . Three individuals were charged in both schemes . The NBA has placed Rozier and Billups on immediate leave and stated it is taking the allegations with the utmost seriousness, emphasizing that the integrity of the game remains its top priority 
. Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Tiago Splitter was named interim head coach . Rozier's attorney, James Trusty, dismissed the arrest as a "photo op" by the FBI and claimed prosecutors relied on "spectacularly incredible sources" rather than evidence, noting Rozier had previously been cleared by the NBA in an internal investigation .
The FBI's Oct. 24 arrests of NBA coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player Damon Jones have expanded the gambling scandal with new allegations. Prosecutors now allege that Rozier not only faked an injury during a March 23, 2023, game against the New Orleans Pelicans but also met with his childhood friend approximately one week after the game to "count the money" from their betting profits . The scheme involved Rozier informing his friend he would exit the game early, enabling the group to place over $200,000 in bets on his underperformance . Rozier played only 9 minutes and scored 5 points, far below his season average of 35 minutes and 21 points per game . The bets paid out, netting the conspirators thousands of dollars .
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Rozier's career was "effectively ended not by injury, but by dishonesty" . Rozier was arrested at a hotel in Orlando, Florida, after the Heat's season opener, where he did not play due to a coaching decision . He was released after posting bail and surrendering his passport, with a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 8 in New York .
Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, is now accused of selling confidential health information about Los Angeles Lakers players, including LeBron James, to bettors before a February 2023 game . Prosecutors allege Jones leaked that James would be unavailable or limited due to injury, enabling associates to place prop bets on the Lakers' performance . When the predicted outcomes did not materialize, the bettors suffered financial losses . Jones, 49, who played for ten NBA teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, was arrested on charges of providing insider information for illegal betting profits .
Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, faces charges related to a sophisticated poker fraud scheme linked to four of New York's five major mafia families—the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese . Prosecutors allege the operation used advanced technology, including X-ray tables, hidden cameras in card trays, rigged shuffling machines, and special contact lenses or glasses that allowed players to read marked cards . The scheme, which operated in luxury locations across Manhattan, the Hamptons, Las Vegas, and Miami, defrauded victims of at least $7 million . Billups and other former NBA players allegedly served as "celebrity bait" to lure high-profile targets into the rigged games . Those who lost money were threatened with extortion and violence to recover debts . Billups was arrested in Portland, Oregon, and released after posting bail, surrendering his passport, and agreeing to travel restrictions and no contact with other defendants . His attorney, Chris Heywood, stated that Billups has an "impeccable reputation" and would not risk his Hall of Fame legacy for a card game .
FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as "one of the most comprehensive gambling and fraud operations in recent years," calling it "the insider trading saga for the NBA" . U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella called it "one of the most brazen corruption scandals in sports history" . The investigation, which began in 2019 and spanned 11 states, resulted in the arrest of over 30 individuals, with six charged in the betting fraud case and 31 in the poker case . Three individuals were charged in both schemes . The NBA has placed Rozier and Billups on immediate leave and stated it is taking the allegations with the utmost seriousness, emphasizing that the integrity of the game remains its top priority . Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Tiago Splitter was named interim head coach . Rozier's attorney, James Trusty, dismissed the arrest as a "photo op" by the FBI and claimed prosecutors relied on "spectacularly incredible sources" rather than evidence, noting Rozier had previously been cleared by the NBA in an internal investigation .
🚨Evocative reporting,
based on 57 🗞 sources
