A large-scale operation targeting illegal gambling and corruption in sports has concluded in the United States. As a result of the FBI’s actions, 31 people were detained, including well-known basketball players and coaches, as well as members of mafia clans.
Among those implicated are player Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former basketball player Damon Jones. The investigation also involves members of notorious crime families: Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. FBI director Kash Patel noted that the operation had been underway for several years and spanned 11 states.
Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, called this one of the boldest cases of sports corruption since the legalization of online betting in the country. According to him, the accused used modern technology to organize underground poker games, enabling them to earn millions in profit under the protection of the ‘Cosa Nostra’ in New York.
Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are suspected of participating in an illegal betting scheme that used insider information from the NBA. In particular, investigators are focusing on a game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans that took place on March 23, 2023. At that time, there was a sharp increase in bets, including 30 wagers placed in just 46 minutes by a professional gambler for a total of $13,759. All bets were on Rozier underperforming, and the player spent only 10 minutes on the court before leaving the game due to injury.
Billups faces charges related to organizing underground poker games that took place in the Hamptons, Miami, Las Vegas, and Manhattan. Both professional athletes and fraud victims participated in these games. Among the participants, Damon Jones is also mentioned.
Prosecutor Joseph Nocella Jr. stated that criminal organizations used special tables with X-ray equipment and high-tech contact lenses to read cards. According to him, the accused employed sophisticated cheating methods, and some of the technology was provided by other scheme participants in exchange for a share of the profits.
In conclusion, the prosecutor stressed that the winning streak for those detained is over, and now they must answer to the law.
