New details have emerged following the gambling-related arrests of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.
The two were among several individuals accused of wrongdoing in a press conference led by federal officials on Thursday, which came after word first broke early that morning that Billups and Rozier, as well as former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones, had been arrested.
The league has faced high-profile gambling scandals in the past, as well as other notable controversies.
Below, we break down what's known about the allegations so far, including statements from attorneys representing Billups and Rozier.
Over 30 people arrested as part of ongoing investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel said at Thursday’s press conference that more than 30 people had been arrested so far. According to Patel, the alleged illegal gambling operation spanned “years” and took place in 11 states. He mentioned specific allegations including wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, and illegal gambling.
“We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation,” Patel added.
Early into the presser, Patel also pointed to a connection to the La Cosa Nostra organized crime group.
There are two indictments, both involving alleged fraud
Officials said Thursday that one of the indictments was focused on sports betting, while the other dealt with illegal gambling. The first indictment includes six defendants accused of taking part in a “sports corruption scheme.” The second accuses 31 defendants of being involved in a “nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games.” There are three overlapping defendants in the two cases. Patel also said Thursday that the NBA had cooperated with the investigation.
Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier allegations
Billups is accused of involvement in a Mafia-backed underground poker rigging scheme. Rozier’s allegations stem from an alleged illegal sports betting scheme. In that scheme, officials alleged on Thursday, private NBA information was used. As previously reported, questions had been raised in connection with Rozier's performance in a 2023 game. At the time, the 31-year-old was playing for the Hornets.
Jim Trusty, Rozier’s attorney, said in a statement on Thursday that efforts had been made in the past to reach out to prosecutors to initiate “an open line of communication.” Trusty, per the Associated Press, also questioned why Rozier had been characterized “as a subject, not a target” in the investigation.
“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender, they opted for a photo op,” the attorney said. “They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case.”
Rozier and Jones, plus four other defendants, were charged in an unsealed indictment with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Arraignments are set for a future date in New York. If convicted as charged, the defendants in this case face a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars for wire fraud conspiracy, and 20 years for money laundering conspiracy.
In the other scheme, Billups is facing charges of his own for money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy. Chris Heywood, an attorney for Billups, later shared a statement with ESPN disputing the claims against the current Blazers coach and former Pistons player.
“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others,” Heywood said. “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game.”
Heywood continued, “Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games, provide insider information, or sacrifice the trust of his team and the League, as it would tarnish the game he has devoted his entire life to. Chauncey Billups has never backed down. He does not plan to do so now. He will fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career. We look forward to our day in court.”
NBA issues statement
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” a league rep said in a statement shared with Complex on Thursday. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”