"LeBron James was the prominent player, a source close to James told ESPN. James was not accused of wrongdoing in the indictment. Jones was one of 34 people arrested, along with Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, as part of a yearslong investigation spanning nearly a dozen states and involving tens of millions of dollars, FBI director Kash Patel said."
"The investigation outlined two separate cases -- one on illegal sports betting and another on rigged poker games involving the Mafia, authorities announced. Jones was an unofficial, unpaid part of former Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham's staff and is no longer with the team under current Lakers coach JJ Redick. Ham invited Jones to be a part of team activities after James spent the summer of 2022 with Jones present for many of his offseason workouts."
"James was unaware that Jones, his former teammate and assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was involved in gambling activity when Jones spent time around James and the Lakers during the 2022-23 season, the source said. The federal indictment alleges that before a Lakers game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 9, 2023, Jones texted a co-conspirator to "get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight" because James was going to be out."
Damon Jones, a former 11-year NBA player, was arrested on charges that he disclosed privileged injury information about a prominent basketball player to facilitate illegal sports betting. LeBron James was identified as that player and was not accused of wrongdoing. Jones was among 34 people arrested, including Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, in a yearslong investigation spanning nearly a dozen states and involving tens of millions of dollars. The probe includes separate cases into illegal sports betting and rigged Mafia-linked poker games. Jones served unofficially with the Lakers in 2022 and allegedly texted to place a large bet before a Feb. 9, 2023, game.
Read at ESPN.com
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