LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — High-profile NBA figures, including Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones, have been implicated in a major illegal sports betting and rigged poker game scandal, according to federal officials.
U.S. District Attorney Joseph Nocella announced two separate indictments during a press conference Thursday morning.
Jones is one of several defendants listed in both indictments.
Investigators allege that NBA coaches and players collaborated with the mafia over several years, employing insider trading and cheating technology to defraud victims.
The partnership reportedly led to the arrest of more than 30 individuals across 11 states.
Officials report that tens of millions of dollars were lost.
Damon Jones was notably arrested in Las Vegas, where Portland coach Chauncey Billups is also accused of hosting rigged poker games.
NBA celebrities were allegedly used as "face cards" to attract victims, known as "fish," to the games.
During these games, victims would lose up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Officials note one victim lost $1.8 million during a rigged poker game.
Zach Jensen from the Mob Museum says illegal gambling has long been a part of mob culture, but this time around was different.
"Normally, the mafia doesn't want to cheat their customers because they want them to come back," Jensen said.
However, in this case, the defendants allegedly used advanced technology, such as altered shuffling machines, special contact lenses and glasses, and X-ray tables to scam victims.
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"The mob has always kept up with technology, but we haven't seen before x-ray poker tables and sophisticated shuffling machines that tell people who the winners are going to be," Jensen said.
The scandal extends beyond poker, with U.S. District Attorney Joseph Nocella presenting an indictment involving illegal sports betting.
Defendants are accused of using insider information from NBA players and coaches to place bets and launder winnings.
Investigators say defendants allegedly used cash exchanges, shell companies, and cryptocurrency transfers to launder their winnings.
Defendants are accused of using prop bets, which means they manipulated the performance of athletes during games to make a profit.
Keith O'Brien, author of "Charlie Hustle," remarked on the impact of such activities on sports integrity.
"There's no reason to watch the outcome or hear about the outcome of games if we don't believe what's happening is real," he said.
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