Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who was arrested by federal agents Thursday for allegedly laundering money and committing wire fraud conspiracy as part of a years-long poker scheme, has finally addressed the matter publicly.
Chris Heywood, Billups’ attorney, said the former player “is a man of integrity” and planned to “fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career,” in a statement released to The Oregonian/OregonLive early Thursday evening.
“Chauncey Billups has never backed down,” Heywood said. “He does not plan to do so now.”
The statement came a few hours after Billups was arraigned in federal court in downtown Portland, where he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo.
Heywood spoke on Billups’ behalf and arranged for the release of his client on both charges.
The Blazers’ coach has been placed on immediate leave by the NBA — which pledged to “cooperate with the relevant authorities” — and has been temporarily replaced by interim coach Tiago Splitter.
Below is a copy of Heywood’s full statement:
“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others.
“To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game.
“Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games, provide insider information, or sacrifice the trust of his team and the League, as it would tarnish the game he has devoted his entire life to.
“Chauncey Billups has never backed down. He does not plan to do so now. He will fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career. We look forward to our day in court.”
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