Federal authorities announced Thursday that two major figures in the league have been arrested in connection with a vast gambling operation allegedly tied to organized crime. The arrests include Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, along with more than 30 other individuals.
Allegations and Scope of the Investigation
According to the indictments unsealed in New York, Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to run high-stakes poker games that were rigged and backed by major crime families. Authorities say the scheme used manipulated shuffling machines and even X-ray technology to read the cards of unsuspecting gamblers. “The fraud is mind-boggling,” said Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In a separate but related case, Rozier is accused of providing insider information about games — including player availability and injuries — which allowed bettors to place unlawful wagers on NBA contests. Prosecutors allege the information was used to place prop bets with the outcome heavily skewed.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. described the arrests as “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”
Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on immediate leave by their teams and the league. A statement from the NBA emphasized: “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
The Trail Blazers announced that assistant coach Tiago Splitter will serve as interim head coach while the investigation proceeds.
The two indictments span 11 states and involve tens of millions of dollars, according to law enforcement. The poker scheme allegedly drew on the influence of four of New York’s prominent mafia families, including the Bonanno crime family, Gambino crime family and Genovese crime family.
Billups, who entered the Basketball Hall of Fame last year after a 17-year NBA playing career, is alleged to have served as the “face card” for high-stakes illicit games and to have aided in laundering proceeds.
The arrests send a sharp signal of the vulnerabilities facing a sports-betting industry that has grown rapidly in recent years. Investigators say that the scheme exploited prop bets and inside information that linked athletes, coaches and organized crime. One example given by prosecutors involved players removing themselves from games early to benefit specific bets.
As the league continues to navigate the expansion of legalized sports betting, the investigation may prompt stricter regulations, enhanced monitoring of player conduct and strengthened game-integrity protocols.
Billups and Rozier both face federal charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy, each carrying potentially up to 20 years in prison. Court appearances are forthcoming and many questions remain unanswered.