Chauncey Billups
Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
At the beginning of the NBA season the Minnesota Timberwolves tipped off against the Portland Trailblazers. Immediately following that contest Trailblazers head coach, and former Timberwolves star, Chauncey Billups was in a court room.
Tied to illegal gambling activities, the mafia, and a whole bunch of other things that sound straight out of a storybook, he hasn’t been present much since. Now a defendant in a massive scandal, there’s a real possibility jail time is in his future.
Chauncey Billups may be the next MN Timberwolves inmate
Although not quite as disgraced as the Minnesota Vikings criminal history, the Minnesota Timberwolves have had their fair share of criminal run-ins. Michael Beasley, Malik Beasley, and Isaiah Rider are just some names that come to mind.
Billups is spending his time out on a $5 million bond in the Denver area. It’s possible that the case may take years to sort through, but Ramona Shelburne (ESPN) doesn’t find it certain that Billups avoids discipline.
He’s facing money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges, both of which carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years…It will be a long time before anyone fully knows how Billups allegedly became involved in this scandal and the extent to which he was. It’s a process that could take years.
ESPN
On Wednesday afternoon, Billups and the other 30 defendants in the case are due in a Brooklyn, New York courtroom. The timeline for a trial appears to have a hopeful start this fall.
Only Billups and Anthony Schnayderman, considered the primary money launderer, were released on bond. Shelburne notes that Billups put up his Colorado home as collateral, and his lenient conditions could be a reflection of his financial means and fame.
Former NBA player Tiago Splitter has coached all but one of the Trailblazers games this season. He has them sitting at 29-32, 10th in the Western Conference. Their 33rd loss, the one game Splitter was not in charge of, was that 118-114 defeat on opening night at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
At 49 years old, Billups spent 17 years of his life in the NBA. Two of those seasons came in a Timberwolves uniform. If convicted, the NBA Hall of Famer is facing a sentence that may push the end of his life up behind bars.
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