Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday as part of an FBI sports-gambling probe, the agency announced in a news conference.
In addition to Billups and Rozier, former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested. Thursday’s arrests are linked to two separate cases: one involves sports gambling, and the other an illegal poker ring.
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Rozier was named in the sports gambling indictment, Billups in the poker operation, which involved several organized crime families. Jones is one of three defendants named in both cases.
FBI director Kash Patel and the Department of Justice held a press conference Thursday morning to provide details on the investigation. Rozier and Billups will appear in court later Thursday.
Follow along below for live updates on the case:
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Chris Cwik
The NBA announced Thursday that both Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were placed on leave following their arrests.
In a statement, the league said it was still sorting through the federal indictments announced Thursday. The league said both Billups and Rozier would be placed on leave immediately.
The NBA added that it will cooperate with the authorities and that it takes the allegations “with the utmost seriousne
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Ben Fawkes
From Bill Miller, the President and CEO of the American Gaming Association:
“Today’s revelations are a stark reminder of the pervasive and predatory illegal market, ensnaring countless individuals and operating in the shadows.
It is important to recognize that the regulated legal market delivers transparency, oversight, and collaboration with authorities that assists in bringing these bad actors to light.
Today, we applaud the work of the FBI, the NYPD, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Eastern District of New York, and reiterate the legal gaming industry’s commitment to integrity and collaboration with regulators, leagues, and law enforcement. We will continue to work closely with all partners to eliminate illegal gambling and uphold the public’s trust in the games we love.
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Ben Fawkes
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. on the sportsbooks’ involvement:
“The sportsbooks themselves are victims in this case. As far as our investigation has concluded, they did not perpetrate anything unlawful.”
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Ben Fawkes
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Terry Rozier:
“As the NBA season tips off, his career is already benched — not for injury, but for integrity.”
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Ben Fawkes
FBI Director Patel on the implications for other sports leagues and the legal gambling industry in general:
“Simple. If you’re participating in the legal gambling industry, you’ve got nothing to worry about. If you’re participating in illegal conduct, you’ve got everything to worry about, and this case shows it.”
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Malik Beasley has been under investigation by the NBA for gambling allegations linked to a federal probe.
ESPN reported on June 29 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York had begun investigating Beasley, with the NBA’s cooperation. The alleged infraction against Beasley comes from allegations of improper gambling on NBA games and prop bets. Beasley is accused of allegedly participating in these activities during the 2023-24 season while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Ben Fawkes
Important to note that U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. says Chauncey Billups’ indictment is related to illegal, rigged poker games — not anything to do with inside information relating to NBA games, which was highlighted in the sports betting ring.
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Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July, related to the betting scandal that resulted in the 24-year-old being banned permanently from the NBA.
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Defendants in the gambling investigation used confidential information about NBA athletes and teams.
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There are two separate indictments the FBI is announcing: a sports gambling ring and an illegal poker operation tied to several crime families.
There are three overlapping defendants: Damon Jones, Eric Earnest and Shane Hennen.
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FBI director Kash Patel says the case involves both the NBA and “La Cosa Nostra” (several crime families), and tens of millions of dollars in “fraud, theft and robbery” over several years.
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