NBA players and mob associates charged in twin illegal betting scandals
On October 23, federal prosecutors in New York charged a group that includes current and former NBA players, coaches, and reputed mob associates in two sweeping gambling conspiracies that allegedly turned professional basketball and high-stakes poker into criminal rackets.
In one indictment, six defendants — including NBA player Terry Rozier and former player and coach Damon Jones — are accused of using confidential team information to profit from insider sports betting. Others charged include Eric “Spook” Earnest, Marves “Vezino” Fairley, Shane “Sugar” Hennen, and Deniro “Niro” Laster.
Prosecutors say the group shared locker room and medical details about upcoming NBA games, then placed or directed bets through online sportsbooks between December 2022 and March 2024, reaping hundreds of thousands in profits.
“The defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation,” said U.S. Attorney Nocella. “They exploited private team information for profit and undermined the integrity of the game.”
According to the indictment, Rozier allegedly told co-conspirators he planned to leave a March 23, 2023, Charlotte Hornets game early, leading to more than $200,000 in “under” bets that paid off when he exited after nine minutes. In another instance, Earnest received a tip that Portland Trail Blazers starters would sit out, allowing associates to place $100,000 in early wagers before the news became public.
Former Cavaliers player and Heat assistant Damon Jones is accused of repeatedly selling inside information about Los Angeles Lakers players, while others allegedly received tips from Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors insiders. Raptors player Jontay Porter and gambler Long Phi Pham have already pleaded guilty in related cases.
All six defendants face wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges and will be arraigned in Brooklyn at a later date.
Separate Mafia-Linked Poker Scandal
In a related case, federal prosecutors unsealed a second indictment yesterday, charging 31 defendants — including reputed members of the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families, as well as Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and again Damon Jones — with running rigged poker games across the U.S.
Authorities say the group used hidden wireless devices to cheat during high-stakes card games in New York City, East Hampton, and other locations. The indictment also details violent extortions, assaults, and even a gunpoint robbery connected to enforcing gambling debts.
Victims of the rigged games may qualify for restitution under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act and are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
For video coverage of the investigation, see below.
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(Sources: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York)
(Cover photo: Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones, Image credit, X)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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