Portland Path Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Warmth participant Terry Rozier had been arrested Thursday in reference to two main federal playing investigations, federal authorities in New York mentioned Thursday.
Billups is one among 31 defendants, a few of whom are alleged Mafia members, of taking part in a nationwide scheme to rig poker video games with “high-tech dishonest know-how to steal tens of millions of {dollars} from victims in underground poker video games,” Brooklyn U.S. Lawyer Joseph Nocella mentioned at a press convention with FBI Director Kash Patel.
Additionally arrested Thursday was former NBA participant Damon Jones, who’s charged within the case involving Billups, and the one involving Rozier, through which sports activities bettors allegedly exploited leaked inside details about gamers to make worthwhile wagers.
Jones allegedly leaked medical details about Los Angeles Lakers stars to sports activities bettors whereas appearing as an unofficial coach for the staff. One indictment additionally means that Jones leaked data to sports activities bettors in regards to the harm standing of Lakers superstars LeBron James earlier than a February 2023 recreation, and about Lakers participant Anthony Davis earlier than a January 2024 recreation.
Rozier allegedly tipped off a longtime pal in 2023 that he deliberate to depart a recreation early, when he enjoying for the Charlotte Hornets, for a purported harm.
Rozier 31, and Billups 49, “are being positioned on quick depart from their groups, and we’ll proceed to cooperate with the related authorities,” the NBA mentioned in an announcement. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our recreation stays our prime precedence.”
Former Toronto Raptors participant Jontay Porter was beforehand charged within the sports activities playing scheme. Porter pleaded responsible in July 2024 to wire fraud conspiracy.
FBI Director Kash Patel (R) leads information convention to announce arrests tied to unlawful sports activities betting and poker recreation schemes, in New York Metropolis on October 23, 2025.
Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Photographs
Nocelle mentioned that within the alleged scheme involving Billups, conspirators used know-how that included poker chip tray analyzers and tampered shuffling machines that would ship details about gamers’ fingers to an off-site operator, Nocella mentioned.
The defendants additionally used particular glasses or contact lenses “that would learn pre-marked playing cards, and an x-ray desk that would learn playing cards face down on the desk,” he mentioned.
The video games that befell within the New York space had been backed by the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese crime households, he mentioned.
An x-ray poker desk.
Courtesy: U.S. Division of Justice
FBI Assistant Director in Cost Christopher Raia, in an announcement, mentioned that Rozier and Jones, whose NBA profession spanned from 1998 to 2009, and 4 different co-conspirators “allegedly knowledgeable the defendants and others of confidential data relating to imminent NBA video games and participant performances, reminiscent of pre-release medical data and a participant’s intention to change their upcoming recreation efficiency, which favored sure bettors inside their inside social circle.”
“This alleged collusion resulted within the defendants secretly pocketing their lavish winnings and corrupting NBA video games,” Raia mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned Rozier, whereas enjoying for the Charlotte Hornets, tipped long-time pal, Deniro Laster, that he deliberate to depart a recreation on March 23, 2023, early “because of a purported harm.”
Laster, and two others charged within the case, Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen, then “used that confidential data to position and direct greater than $200,000 in wagers predicting Rozier’s ‘beneath’ statistics,” which means that he would underperform in sure areas of play, prosecutors mentioned.
“Rozier exited the sport after 9 minutes, and lots of the bets paid off, producing tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in earnings,” prosecutors mentioned. “Laster collected the money and drove by way of the night time to Rozier’s home, the place collectively they counted the earnings collectively.”
Head coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Path Blazers reacts through the first quarter of the preseason recreation in opposition to the Golden State Warriors on the Moda Heart on October 14, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.
Alika Jenner | Getty Photographs Sport | Getty Photographs
Billups, a former participant for the Detroit Pistons who spent 17 years within the NBA, was arrested in Portland, Oregon. A five-time All-Star, Billups was inducted into the Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2024.
Billups was named NBA Finals Most Invaluable Participant in 2004 when the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers within the league’s finals.
He’s charged with wire fraud conspiracy and cash laundering conspiracy.
Rozier, a 10-year NBA veteran, reportedly had been eyed for months over suspicious sports activities betting exercise associated to his play earlier than his arrest.
He’s charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit cash laundering.
Rozier was arrested in Orlando, Florida, and launched from custody after making his preliminary look in federal courtroom in that metropolis on Thursday afternoon. A Justice of the Peace choose required Rozier to publish his $6 million home within the state as collateral for a bond. He didn’t enter a plea.
Terry Rozier #2 of the Miami Warmth dribbles the ball through the second half in a preseason recreation in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies at Kaseya Heart on October 17, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
Tomas Diniz Santos | Getty Photographs Sport | Getty Photographs
Jim Trusty, an lawyer for Rozier, informed CNBC in an announcement that prosecutors “seem like taking the phrase of spectacularly in-credible sources somewhat than counting on precise proof of wrongdoing.”
“Terry isn’t a gambler, however he isn’t afraid of a struggle, and he seems to be ahead to successful this struggle,” Trusty mentioned.
Billups was launched after showing earlier than a federal choose in Oregon, with the situation that he safe a considerable launch bond when he seems in federal courtroom in Brooklyn to reply the indictment.
— CNBC’s Jessica Golden contributed reporting.
