Esther Imonmion
An NBA player and a head coach are among dozens arrested in a sweeping FBI crackdown on illegal sports betting and mafia-linked poker games, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were named in two separate federal indictments. Both men have denied any wrongdoing. Rozier, 31, was charged alongside five others in a case alleging betting irregularities, including players accused of faking injuries to manipulate gambling markets. Billups, a Hall of Fame player turned coach, was among 31 defendants charged in a separate poker scheme involving members of New York’s major crime families.
According to prosecutors, the poker operation—linked to the Bonanno, Genovese, and Gambino crime families—used advanced technology such as contact lenses, marked cards, and X-ray tables to rig high-stakes poker games featuring professional athletes. Victims were allegedly defrauded of more than $7 million.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the arrests as part of an “extraordinary, co-ordinated takedown across 11 states,” adding that the multi-year investigation uncovered “tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft.” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. called the cases “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online betting became legal,” warning defendants that their “winning streak has ended.”
Federal prosecutors said Rozier and his associates used insider information to manipulate bets on NBA games. One incident under investigation involves a February 2023 matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier allegedly told a friend he would leave the game early due to injury, prompting bets exceeding $200,000 on his underperformance. He exited after nine minutes, scoring only five points, and his associates reportedly profited tens of thousands of dollars.
Rozier’s attorney, James Trusty, said prosecutors were relying on “spectacularly in-credible sources” and maintained that Rozier had previously been cleared by the NBA. The player was released on bail in Orlando after posting his $6 million Florida home as collateral.
In the second indictment, Billups was accused of taking part in illegal poker games organized by mob-linked associates in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons. Victims were allegedly lured into playing against former athletes and mobsters before being cheated out of large sums. When players refused to pay, the crime families resorted to threats and intimidation, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Billups, who has coached Portland since 2021, was arrested in Oregon and later arraigned in court. His lawyer, Chris Heywood, said Billups would “fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career.”
The NBA said both Rozier and Billups were placed on immediate leave pending review. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness,” the league said. “The integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
The investigation also led to the arrest of former NBA player Damon Jones, linked to two allegedly fixed games involving the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023 and 2024. Officials said further arrests were possible as the FBI continues to probe links between professional athletes and organized crime.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” said FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia. “We’re committed to ensuring that organized crime cannot continue to exploit professional sports or our communities.”