Federal authorities have charged former NBA player and current coach Chauncey Billups and NBA player Terry Rozier in connection with a significant illegal sports betting and poker scheme. This announcement was made on Thursday, highlighting a broader investigation involving over 30 individuals tied to organized crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn detailed two separate indictments. The first targets a conspiracy involving insider information from the NBA, while the second concerns a nationwide operation to rig underground poker games allegedly backed by Mafia families. During a press conference, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. described the sports betting case as “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”
In the first indictment, Rozier is accused of using confidential NBA information to participate in an illegal betting scheme. Allegations indicate that players modified their performance or withdrew from games early to affect betting outcomes. For instance, Rozier, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, reportedly informed teammates of a plan to leave a game early due to a “supposed injury.” This allowed others to place bets that generated substantial profits.
Billups faces charges related to a different indictment, which involves a scheme to rig poker games in the New York area. According to federal authorities, this operation included 31 defendants, among them former professional athletes who exploited technology to defraud victims in these underground games.
The indictments point to a network of nine unnamed co-conspirators, including individuals with past NBA ties. The indictment alleges that Rozier and other defendants had access to sensitive information that could influence game outcomes, sharing this information with co-conspirators in exchange for fees or a cut of betting profits.
Rozier was apprehended in Orlando, Florida, on the morning following the announcement, shortly after playing in a game that did not involve him participating. The Hornets did not comment on his arrest. Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, previously stated that Rozier had been assured by the NBA and FBI in 2023 that he had not committed any wrongdoing.
Billups, a five-time All-Star and Hall of Fame inductee, has been coaching the Portland Trail Blazers for five seasons, currently holding a record of 117 wins and 212 losses. He led the Detroit Pistons to an NBA championship in 2004 and has had a distinguished playing career that includes stints with several teams, including the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors.
This case follows a similar prosecution involving former NBA player Jontay Porter, who faced allegations of withdrawing from games to facilitate betting schemes. The investigations underscore a growing concern about corruption within professional sports, particularly as the legal landscape surrounding sports betting continues to evolve.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of these charges could resonate throughout the sports community, raising crucial questions about integrity and accountability in professional athletics.
