NBA's Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier arrested in U.S. federal gambling probe

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones have been arrested in wide-ranging federal investigations into illegal sports betting and Mafia-linked poker games that have led to 34 arrests across 11 states and involved tens of millions of dollars.

Rozier is accused of using insider information to profit from wagers on at least seven NBA games between March 2023 and March 2024, while Billups faces separate allegations that he helped rig underground poker games backed by multiple Mafia families. Both men have been placed on “immediate leave” by the NBA.

Meanwhile, Jones, who played and coached for the Cavaliers and worked as an unofficial assistant coach for the Lakers during the 2022-23 NBA season, allegedly sold inside information to bettors. He reportedly had a close relationship with "a prominent NBA player" during his time with the Cavaliers and the Lakers, seemingly identified as star Lebron James, and had access to insider information through that relationship.

FBI Director Kash Patel described the alleged fraud as “mind-boggling” and said, “This is the insider trading saga for the NBA, that's what this is.” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. called the case “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States,” as per ESPN.

According to prosecutors, in three of the seven games tied to Rozier, players intentionally removed themselves to influence bets. The schemes allegedly relied on conspirators who “had access to private information known by NBA players or NBA coaches.”

Billups and Jones are accused of acting as a “face card” to lure participants into poker games that used cheating technology, with proceeds benefiting members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “Victims believed that they were sitting at a fair table. Instead, they were cheated out of millions.”

Both Billups and Rozier have been indicted on wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges, each carrying maximum penalties of 20 years in prison.

The NBA said: “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

The Trail Blazers said, “We are aware of the allegations involving head coach Chauncey Billups, and the Trail Blazers are fully cooperating with the investigation,” naming assistant Tiago Splitter interim head coach.

Rozier’s attorney Jim Trusty said his client is “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.”

Billups’ attorney Chris Heywood said he would not jeopardize his hall-of-fame legacy, reputation, and freedom "for anything, let alone a card game,” adding, “Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games to 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.”

The arrests have reignited scrutiny of betting markets. Amid these high-profile cases, Las Vegas bookmakers have helped uncover several point-shaving scandals over the years and have long acted as watchdogs for pro and college sports.

Westgate vice president John Murray said, “We’d be the ones that suffered if it did happen here. We’d be the ones, in the literal sense, paying out and losing money,” adding, “I’m always shocked when people who make this kind of money are involved in these things,” as reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Some U.S. sportsbooks reported a “weird wave of under money” tied to Rozier during one of the games flagged in the case. Matthew Holt of U.S. Integrity called the activity “really abnormal.”

American Gaming Association chief Bill Miller said the revelations are “a stark reminder of the pervasive and predatory illegal market.” He highlighted that the regulated legal market delivers transparency, oversight, and collaboration with authorities that assist in bringing bad actors to light.

Industry executives noted that the growth of player prop markets has expanded opportunities for manipulation. Jeff Sherman of SuperBook said, “We’ve never even ventured into offering wagers that are being brought into question here.” However, Murray said banning player props would push “all the action to those illegal books.”

Federal investigations remain ongoing, including inquiries linked to the Jontay Porter betting case, where prosecutors have signalled further developments.