Federal Operation Uncovers “Brazen” Sports Rigging and Poker Fraud Tied to Crime Families
Federal authorities announced Thursday that more than 30 people — including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier — were arrested in connection with an expansive investigation into illegal gambling and sports rigging operations allegedly tied to the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families.
“We are here in New York to announce a historic arrest across a wide, sweeping criminal enterprise that envelops both the NBA and La Cosa Nostra,” FBI Director Kash Patel said during a press conference in Brooklyn. Billups, Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones were taken into custody Thursday morning, Patel confirmed.
In a statement, the NBA said both men were placed on immediate leave and pledged full cooperation with authorities. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the league said.
Two Federal Cases: Rigged Poker Games and Sports Betting
According to U.S. Attorney Frank Nocella, the arrests stem from two parallel investigations — one into a nationwide sports betting conspiracy and another into a sophisticated poker game-rigging operation. The poker scheme, which includes Billups among its 31 defendants, allegedly used high-tech cheating equipment to steal millions from victims.
That technology included tampered shuffling machines, x-ray poker tables, and pre-marked cards that could be read using special glasses or contact lenses. The data from these devices was reportedly transmitted to an off-site operator who coordinated with players and dealers to manipulate game outcomes.
Victims — referred to as “fish” — were lured by the chance to play alongside celebrities and athletes, dubbed “face cards,” who were allegedly complicit in the scam. “Every player, dealer, and so-called celebrity participant was in on it,” Nocella said. Games took place primarily in New York and New Jersey and were protected by organized crime figures.
Sports Betting Conspiracy Involving NBA Players
The second case centers on what Nocella described as “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became legal.” It involves six defendants, including Rozier and former player Damon Jones.
Authorities allege that Rozier participated in insider sports betting rings that influenced game outcomes. Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, previously charged in the same case, pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud conspiracy.
“This alleged illegal gambling operation hustled unwitting victims out of tens of millions of dollars and created a financial pipeline for La Cosa Nostra,” said FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia. “It helped fund and facilitate organized criminal activity on a national scale.”
NBA Fallout and Ongoing Investigation
Billups, a five-time NBA All-Star and 2004 Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons, was arrested in Portland, Oregon. Rozier was detained in Orlando, Florida. The FBI indicated that Rozier had been under surveillance for months due to suspicious betting patterns related to NBA games.
The high-profile arrests mark a major blow to the NBA’s integrity efforts and are likely to trigger an extensive internal review. “The connection between professional sports and organized gambling is not new,” said Nocella. “What’s new is the technology and the level of coordination that allowed this to flourish in plain sight.”
Both Billups and Rozier face federal charges that could carry decades in prison if convicted. Investigators say more indictments could follow as evidence continues to unfold.
