#chauncey-billups

#chauncey-billups

As I sat in the Portland Trail Blazers' press room and watched Chauncey Billups answer anodyne questions about if Matisse Thybulle was going to suit up for the Blazers' home opener, no one had any idea that in 12 hours time he was going to be arrested by the FBI for allegedly serving as a front man for Mafia-controlled high stakes poker games designed to cheat players out of their money.

On Thursday morning, federal prosecutors unsealed two indictments that outlined separate schemes to rig sports bets and poker games. More than 30 people were arrested, including former Clippers player and current Portland head coach Chauncey Billups, who was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games run by Mafia families. Also arrested were Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who is accused of being part of a scheme to provide private insider NBA information to help others profit from online bets, and retired player Damon Jones, who has been charged with taking part in both schemes.

We all know the rules. We all know the letter of the law, and it's just unfortunate. You know, innocent to proven guilty, but usually, when the FBI has something, they have you I know a lot of people in the FBI. I've been in many of those investigations. They'll wait two, three, four, five years, but when they come knocking on your door, they have something.

Billups on Thursday was arrested and charged for his alleged role in a Mafia-backed illegal poker scheme. During an FBI press conference, it was revealed that the poker scheme involved sophisticated technology used to rig games for the defendants. Billups, the indictment alleged, served as a face card in the operation a high-profile player to entice would-be victims join the games.

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