From courts to courtrooms: Chauncey Billups hit by gambling charges

In a stunning development for professional basketball, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were arrested Thursday in connection with two major federal gambling investigations in Brooklyn, New York. Former NBA player Damon Jones was also taken into custody as part of the probes.

According to Brooklyn US Attorney Joseph Nocella, Billups is among 31 defendants accused of participating in a nationwide poker-rigging scheme that allegedly used high-tech devices to cheat players out of millions of dollars. Victims reportedly lost at least $7.15 million since 2019. The scheme involved tampered shuffling machines, specially marked glasses and contacts, and even an X-ray table to gain an unfair advantage in underground poker games linked to the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families.

Separately, Rozier and Jones are charged in a sports betting scheme in which confidential information about NBA players was allegedly shared with bettors to make profitable wagers. Prosecutors claim Jones leaked medical and performance information about Los Angeles Lakers stars, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while Rozier provided inside tips to a friend in 2023 while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, allowing wagers to be placed against his own performance.

“The defendants allegedly pocketed lavish winnings and corrupted NBA games,” FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia said, adding that Rozier’s tip-off led to bets totaling more than $200,000 in March 2023.

The NBA responded quickly, placing both Rozier and Billups on immediate leave. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the league said in a statement.

Billups, a 49-year-old Hall of Famer and 2004 NBA Finals MVP, was arrested in Portland, Oregon. Rozier, 31, was arrested in Orlando, Florida, and released after posting his $6 million home as collateral for bond. Both have not entered pleas. Their attorneys strongly denied the allegations, calling them “incredible” and asserting that their clients are men of integrity who would never risk their careers or reputations for gambling schemes.

FanDuel, one of the NBA’s official betting partners, described the arrests as “deeply disturbing” and highlighted the difference between legal and illegal betting markets, emphasizing its use of real-time monitoring and collaboration with law enforcement to prevent illicit activity.

The investigations follow previous charges against former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in July 2024.

The case shines a spotlight on the risks of illegal sports gambling and its potential impact on professional sports, as federal authorities continue to pursue multiple defendants linked to both poker and sports betting schemes.