Feds bust mafia-linked gambling fraud. Mafia-linked illegal gambling ring smashed in New York, NBA legends face serious charges. A stunning revelation by the Eastern District of New York on Thursday shook the sporting world. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed two distinct gambling probes, charging 34 individuals, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and ex-NBA player Damon Jones. Those probes uncovered connections to notorious Bonanno, Genovese, Gambino, and Lucchese mafia clans, involving multimillion-dollar money laundering and deep-seated connections to organized crime.
A long and salacious press conference
During a Thursday press conference, which included FBI Director Kash Patel, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr., and New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, new and disturbing details of the multi-year probe were revealed. The probe involved 11 states and uncovered a massive underworld network of organized crime. Nocella firmly declared during the press conference, “My message to those arrested today is clear: Your winning streak is over. Your luck will no longer be on your side. Breaking the law is detrimental, and you can’t afford to bet on it.”
Dramatic Charges Against Chauncey Billups. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, who led his team’s season opener on Wednesday night, was arrested in Portland on Thursday morning. He is charged with involvement in an elaborate scheme to gamble that utilized him to entice big bets into fixed-up poker games. Billups was utilized as a “face card” to bring “fish” (easy victims) to illicit poker games played in Miami, New York, Las Vegas, and the Hamptons, Nocella alleges. These games had no hope of winning since the conspirators utilized marked cards, contact lenses, and even X-ray tables whose visitors’ faces were exposed once their cards were laid face down.
This scam, which authorities referred to as “Zen Diagrams,” swindled victims of millions of dollars. One victim supposedly lost $1.8 million. This money was subsequently laundered by Mafia clans.
Terry Rozier and Game-Fixing Allegations. Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier is charged with game-fixing in a parallel investigation, referred to as “Nothing But Net.” According to investigators, from December 2022 to March 2024, Rozier imparted inside information on his games and availability. In particular, for the March 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans, when Rozier was playing for the Charlotte Hornets, he allegedly departed the court after playing just nine minutes because of an injury. According to investigators, Rozier shared this information with his co-conspirators, who placed $200,000 in bets on the odds, generating thousands of dollars in profits. This money was later delivered to his home.
Damon Jones and Others Involved
Former NBA player Damon Jones, who retired in 2012, is one of three individuals charged in both investigations. He is also accused of participating in gambling and rigging schemes. The probe also uncovered the name of ex-Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter, who was suspended from the NBA in 2024. Porter pleaded guilty to corrupting two games and is awaiting sentencing. The investigators claim Porter was threatened with violence because he had gambling debts, prompting him to share inside information.
Mafia’s Fear and Violence
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch detailed in a press conference that the accused used traditional organized crime methods when victims would not pay. “They used violence, intimidation, and threats. This is the same old-fashioned Mafia strategy, with added technology, that these criminals have used to build their network,” Tisch stated.
NBA and Teams. The NBA was serious about the issue and released a statement, stating, “We are examining the federal indictments that were announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being put on immediate suspension from their teams, and we will remain cooperative with the respective authorities. The integrity of our game is of the utmost importance to us.”
The Portland Trail Blazers put Billups on leave forthwith and named Tiago Splitter interim head coach. The Blazers stated, “We are cooperating fully with the investigation. Further inquiries should go to the NBA.” The Miami Heat echoed the statement by the NBA.
Terry Rozier’s Lawyer Replies
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, refuted these claims vehemently. He stated, “Prosecutors said Terry was the target of the investigation, not the subject. And at 6 a.m. Thursday, however, I got called and told that FBI agents were attempting to arrest him at a hotel. This is an effort to embarrass a professional athlete. This is evident proof of the motivation for this case. Terry was cleared before by the NBA, but prosecutors have brought back this non-case. Terry is not a gambler, and he is ready to win this fight.”
Questions concerning the integrity of the game
The scandal raises serious questions regarding the integrity of the NBA and sport. Such a high-profile gambling racket, reportedly organized by the mafia, has stunned sport fans and sports fans. The investigation continues, and further revelations should be expected over the next few days.
The arrest of high-profile personalities such as Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones has shaken the sports community. The case not only reveals the strong connection between gambling and organized crime but also highlights transparency and justice in professional sports. As the investigation unfolds, everyone waits with bated breath to see how the NBA and its corresponding teams handle this scandal
