"Federal prosecutors unsealed two indictments Thursday outlining an illegal betting scheme that has rocked the NBA and named current and former players, including the Miami Heat's Terry Rozier; former Clippers player and current Portland head coach Chauncey Billups; and retired NBA player and friend of LeBron James Damon Jones. Prosecutors are accusing Rozier and Jones of using private insider NBA information such as when when players would sit out to help others profit in leveraged bets online."
"At a news conference flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel, U.S. Atty. Joseph Nocella Jr. said Rozier and Jones are among six defendants allegedly involved in one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States. The scheme involved exploiting information about the National Basketball Association, athletes and teams and covered games with the Toronto Raptors, Lakers, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers."
"While each indictment unsealed Thursday is a separate case, they have overlapping defendants including Jones, who played 11 seasons in the league, Novella said. Federal prosecutors allege that between December 2022 and March 2024, the defendants, including Jones, used inside information to defraud bettors, including which players would be sitting out games and when players would "pull themselves out of games early for purported injuries""
Federal prosecutors unsealed indictments alleging an illegal betting scheme involving current and former NBA players, including Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones. Prosecutors allege that Rozier and Jones supplied private insider information about player availability and in-game removals to help others place leveraged online bets. Billups is charged with rigging underground poker games backed by New York Mafia families. The NBA placed Rozier and Billups on immediate leave. Authorities allege the scheme covered games involving the Raptors, Lakers, Hornets and Trail Blazers and occurred between December 2022 and March 2024.
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