Former Detroit Pistons guard and Portland Trailblazers coach Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty in federal court on Monday in Brooklyn as part of the criminal case [alleging his involvement in a Mafia-backed plot to rig illicit poker games](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2025/10/legendary-pistons-guard-nba-coach-arrested-in-federal-gambling-investigation.html).
Billups is alleged to have served as a “face card” for the games, in order to lure unsuspecting high-rollers to join him at poker tables equipped with altered shuffling machines and X-ray technology to rig games against them.
The arraignment for Billups and the 30 other defendants in the case took place on Monday. His defense attorney, Mark Mukasey, entered the plea on Billups’ behalf to U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes.
Billups denies any wrongdoing through his attorneys for the fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges against him.
Reyes says the intention is for the trial to begin in September 2026. Federal prosecutors are expecting a number of defendants to opt to plead guilty with one prosecutor, Michael Gibaldi, saying on Monday that “plea negotiations have begun” with at least some defendants.
“Although it is too early for the government and any of the defendants to engage in substantial plea negotiations, the government and defense counsel for several defendants have begun productive discussions that the government hopes will ultimately lead to resolutions as to several defendants without the need for a trial,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing ahead of Monday’s arraignment.
[Billups](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2025/10/pistons-coach-speaks-out-on-chauncey-billups-warns-about-sports-gambling.html), 49, was arrested last month in Oregon with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Pistons guard and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones arrested on the same day as part of a federal probe focused on gambling around the NBA.
Rozier is charged in a “separate but related illegal gambling case” involving the use of inside information to place unlawful wagers on the NBA. Jones is charged in both cases.
Jones and Rozier have pleaded not guilty.
After last month’s arrests, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella alleged the poker operation began as early as 2019 with games running across the U.S. in The Hamptons, Las Vegas, Miami and Manhattan, defrauding victims of at least $7 million.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Billups enjoyed a Hall-of-Fame career, spending eight seasons of his 17-year career with the Pistons.
Billups signed with the Pistons in 2002 and became one of the key members of their last golden era with six straight playoff appearances and the crowning moment of the 2004 NBA Championship.
The five-time NBA All-Star also had stints with the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.
Billups has spent the last five seasons as the head coach of the Trailblazers, but was placed on leave immediately following his arrest.