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.
So first of all, free legal advice for everybody, do not accept $50,000 in a bag just as a general rule. Now my prosecutorial antenna are definitely up at this scenario, but it's also important to understand the bribery laws can be confusing, and at times confounding. So one of the potential issues here is it's not necessarily a crime for a person to take a bribe, a benefit, On the promise of, If I get into office, I will do something for you.