The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested NBA stars Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones in connection with two related but separate illegal gambling operations that allegedly involve insider sports betting and Mafia-backed poker schemes.
More than 30 people have been charged across both cases, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York described as one of the most extensive sports corruption investigations in recent years.
According to the FBI, Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, is accused of participating in an insider betting ring that used non-public player information to gain an unfair advantage in sports wagers.
Prosecutors allege that Rozier provided betting associates with private details about his game performance or health status, allowing them to place lucrative prop bets.
One incident cited in the indictment occurred in March 2023 when Rozier exited a game early with a reported foot injury, shortly after a surge in under bets was placed on his performance statistics.
He was arrested early Thursday morning in Orlando, Florida, and faces charges of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a former NBA Finals MVP, was arrested in Oregon for his alleged role in a separate underground poker network accused of rigging games using advanced cheating devices.
Federal investigators claim the scheme, financed by members of the Bonanno, Genovese and Gambino crime families, employed marked cards, x-ray tables and modified shuffling machines to fix outcomes in favor of the ring’s insiders.
Billups reportedly served as a recruiter, bringing wealthy clients to the tables, many of whom were unaware of the manipulation.
Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones has been charged in both cases, accused of linking the betting ring to the poker operation.
Authorities allege that Jones facilitated money transfers between participants and introduced players to key figures in the gambling syndicate.
At a press briefing in New York, FBI Director Kash Patel described the intertwined operations as a wake-up call for professional sports, saying the schemes “undermine the integrity of athletic competition and the trust of fans.
Prosecutors said the investigation began after irregular betting patterns were detected on NBA prop wagers, prompting collaboration between the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and sports integrity monitors.
Neither the NBA nor the involved teams, the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers, have issued official statements. However, league sources say emergency meetings are underway to assess the fallout.
The arrests have sent shockwaves through the sports world, with many observers comparing the scandal to the infamous 2007 NBA referee betting case involving Tim Donaghy.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, has denied the allegations, describing the FBI’s operation as a headline-driven overreach built on unreliable informants.
Billups’ representatives have also maintained his innocence, insisting that the coach “had no knowledge of any criminal conduct.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that the case is far from over, warning that additional arrests and indictments could follow.
Investigators are said to be tracing millions of dollars in transactions linked to both schemes, including cryptocurrency payments and offshore accounts.
