An NBA head coach and a player are among more than 30 individuals charged in connection with schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia, authorities say, reports BritPanorama.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information, officials said on Thursday.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups is charged in a separate indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, authorities stated.
The indictments relate to two major cases, one involving sports betting and the second surrounding rigged poker games, according to US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr., who addressed the matter at a news conference alongside FBI Director Kash Patel.
Patel described the “mind-boggling” scale of theft, fraud, and robbery involved, estimating it at “tens of millions of dollars.”
In the first case, six defendants are accused of participating in an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams. Nocella characterized it as “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalised in the United States.”
The second case encompasses 31 defendants in a nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games. The defendants include former professional athletes who are alleged to have used technology to steal millions from victims in underground poker games in the New York area backed by Mafia families.
Athletes accused of leaving games early
In the sports betting scheme, players reportedly altered their performance or took themselves out of games early, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
In one case, Rozier, while with the Hornets, informed others he intended to leave the game early due to a “supposed injury,” which allowed others to place wagers that garnered thousands of dollars, Tisch mentioned.
The indictment of Rozier lists nine unnamed co-conspirators including a Florida resident who was an NBA player, an Oregon resident who played from 1997 to 2014 and has been an NBA coach since at least 2021, as well as a relative of Rozier.
Rozier and the other defendants are said to have “had access to private information known by NBA players or NBA coaches” that could impact game results or player performances, providing that information to co-conspirators for a fee or a cut of betting profits.
The NBA had investigated
The NBA, which had previously investigated Rozier, had no immediate comment following the charges.
Rozier was in uniform for the Heat’s opening game against the Magic in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday evening, though he did not participate in the match. He was taken into custody early Thursday morning in Orlando.
The team did not provide immediate commentary regarding the arrest. Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, stated that Rozier was informed an initial investigation concluded he did nothing wrong after meeting with NBA and FBI officials in 2023.
A request for comment was made to Billups on Thursday morning.
The case originates from the US attorney’s office in Brooklyn, which previously prosecuted former NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center pleaded guilty to charges of withdrawing early from games, pretending to be ill or injured, allowing others to profit from betting based on his underperformance.
Billups, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year, led the Detroit Pistons to their 2004 league title as NBA Finals MVP. The five-time All-Star also has held coaching roles, currently in his fifth season with the Trail Blazers, who began the season with a 118-114 loss to Minnesota.
One game in question involving Rozier occurred on March 23, 2023, between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played just over nine minutes before not returning due to a foot issue, subsequently missing the rest of the season. Despite Charlotte having eight games remaining, which did not impact their playoff positioning, the situation drew scrutiny.
In that March 23 game, Rozier’s performance was atypical for him, finishing with five points, four rebounds, and two assists in a single quarter. Posts from bettors expressed frustration when it became apparent that he would not return to the game, suggesting something dubious occurred regarding prop bets tied to his performance that night.
A prop bet allows gamblers to speculate on whether a player will exceed certain statistical benchmarks, like points or rebounds.
For support and information about gambling, you can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call 1800 858 858.
