A far-reaching federal investigation has resulted in stunning charges against more than thirty individuals, including current and former NBA players and coaches, in a massive illegal gambling and fraud scheme. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the indictments, revealing a complex operation that involved insider betting on basketball games and rigged high-stakes poker, with ties to organized crime families. “The fraud is mind-boggling,” Patel said. “We are talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multiyear investigation.”

Patel has revealed startling new details in a federal betting investigation, stating that former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter received threats from mafia figures due to his gambling debts. This information came to light during a press conference where Patel outlined two major indictments involving NBA personnel and organized crime. The threats were part of a broader scheme that led to Porter’s recent guilty plea and a projected four-year prison sentence.

Patel explained that Porter was threatened because of pre-existing gambling debts, which compelled him to participate in the fraud. He stated that the defendants in the case “got their information by threatening a current player, Porter, because of his preexisting gambling debts.” This coercion was part of a conspiracy where insiders used non-public information about player availability to place profitable bets. The scheme involved betting on player performance props, such as how many points or rebounds a player would record in a game.

Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2024. He admitted in court that he knowingly withdrew from games early to influence the outcome of bets placed on his performance. Porter told the judge, “I knew what I did was wrong and unlawful, and I’m deeply sorry.” His attorney cited a gambling addiction as a driving factor, noting that Porter had accumulated significant debts that led him to cooperate with the scheme.

Prosecutors estimated that Porter’s sentence would fall between 41 and 51 months in prison, which is approximately three and a half to four years. The formal sentencing is set for December 2024, where he could also face substantial fines and restitution. The NBA had previously banned Porter for life in April 2024 after its own investigation found he shared confidential information and bet on games.

The betting scheme, dubbed “Operation Nothing But Bet,” involved multiple defendants, including some other NBA involvement. Let’s further discuss their involvement in the grand scheme of events.

Other NBA involvements linking to the grand scheme

Among those charged are Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, bringing high-profile NBA names into a case that involves sophisticated cheating technology and allegations of game manipulation.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier faces charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud betting companies. Prosecutors claim that while playing for the Charlotte Hornets in March 2023, Rozier informed an associate he would remove himself early from a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. He allegedly cited a head injury as his reason for exiting the contest after just nine minutes. This early departure allowed associates to successfully bet on his “under” statistics, generating tens of thousands in profit.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones are charged in connection with rigged poker games. Court documents reveal that these games used advanced technology, including shuffling machines that secretly read cards and relayed information to conspirators. The scheme also employed marked cards visible only with special contact lenses and electronic chip trays that analyzed hands.

The NBA Players Association issued a statement addressing the situation, emphasizing the importance of due process. A spokesperson stated, “The integrity of the game is paramount to NBA players, but so is the presumption of innocence, and both are hindered when player popularity is misused to gain attention.” The union is committed to ensuring members’ rights are protected throughout the legal process.

Prosecutors noted that both Billups and Jones have substantial financial resources from their NBA careers. Billups earned over $100 million during his playing days and currently holds a multi-year coaching contract. Jones accumulated more than $20 million as a player before working as a coach and analyst. Authorities are not seeking pretrial detention for either man; instead, they are requesting release with conditions.