NBA stars and mafia among more than 30 arrested in illegal gambling crackdown
FBI Arrests Over 30 in Illegal Gambling Crackdown Involving NBA Stars and Mafia Members
In a major FBI crackdown on illegal gambling operations, more than 30 people have been arrested, including prominent NBA players, a head coach, and members of New York City mafia families.
What Happened
Authorities confirmed that there are two separate indictments in this case, one tied to illegal sports betting and another related to rigged high-stakes poker games.
Among those arrested are NBA star Terry Rozier, current Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones.
The NBA has confirmed that both Billups and Rozier have been placed on administrative leave, adding that the organization is fully cooperating with federal investigators.
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Allegations and Details
Officials allege that Rozier faked an injury to assist others in placing fraudulent bets based on non-public information about players and team lineups. The defendants are accused of placing hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal bets using insider details.
In a separate case, Billups and others are accused of luring wealthy victims into rigged underground poker games backed by organized crime families. These games reportedly used x-ray poker tables and pre-marked cards, enabling players connected to the mafia to cheat and scam participants out of millions of dollars.
What We Still Don’t Know
Authorities have not yet disclosed who the victims are, how the defendants intend to plead, or whether additional players or public figures are under investigation.
The FBI has stated that more details will be released as the investigation develops, while the NBA continues to assess its internal compliance and monitoring mechanisms.
This unprecedented operation highlights the growing intersection between professional sports, gambling networks, and organized crime, raising serious questions about ethics and oversight in major leagues.
