The NBA gambling scandal that has stretched across two federal cases may soon shift gears, as new filings indicate several defendants are actively weighing plea negotiations.
The cases, which span alleged insider wagering on NBA games and a separate network of manipulated poker events, are now intersecting in ways prosecutors didn’t initially anticipate.
Court records recently reviewed by NBC News show that multiple individuals charged in the broader investigation have begun discussing possible plea arrangements with federal authorities.
The filings stop short of identifying who is involved in those conversations. Still, the disclosure comes after a recent hearing in which an attorney for former NBA player and coach Damon Jones said both sides “may be engaging in plea negotiations.” All defendants connected to the NBA case are scheduled for a status conference next week.
The broader indictment includes 31 defendants and centers on two clusters of allegations.
The first involves claims that confidential NBA information—particularly medical updates on players—was passed along to bettors before lines adjusted.
The second concerns a series of high-stakes poker games that investigators say were engineered using concealed devices and methods designed to predetermine outcomes. Authorities believe some of the individuals appear in both matters, which is why the cases have increasingly overlapped.
Among the names tied to the NBA component are Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and Jones. Prosecutors have not alleged that Rozier or Billups personally engaged in any wrongdoing; they only say that they fall within the broader investigative scope.
Jones’s role remains one of the most closely watched, partly because of the unusual timing of his court appearances. Earlier this month, he returned to Brooklyn federal court to answer charges in both cases. He entered not guilty pleas across the board—covering accusations of wire fraud, money laundering, and attempts to share non-public NBA information with gamblers.
He was released on a $200,000 bond guaranteed by family members, with travel restricted to parts of Texas and New York City. As part of his release conditions, he is barred from entering casinos, placing bets, or communicating with anyone tied to organized crime.
In the NBA-related case, prosecutors claim Jones attempted to leverage injury information from a January 2024 Lakers game to assist bettors. The player involved was identified in outside reporting as LeBron James, who is not accused of any misbehavior. At the time, Jones held no official role with the Lakers, though he had previously worked with the team in a support capacity during the 2022–23 season.
The poker case, referred to by authorities as Operation Royal Flush, outlines an entirely different set of allegations. Prosecutors contend that select participants knowingly participated in games in which hidden technology influenced outcomes.
One of the defendants in that matter, Anthony Ruggiero Jr., recently tried to challenge a decision keeping him detained. That attempt was denied, leaving his custody status unchanged.
