**FBI Arrests Three NBA Personalities in Major Illegal Sports Betting Crackdown**
On October 23, the FBI arrested three notable NBA figures in connection with an extensive illegal sports betting investigation. Among those taken into custody were Damon Jones, former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach and friend of LeBron James; Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers; and Terry Rozier, guard for the Miami Heat.
Following the arrests, the FBI held a press conference revealing key details about the case and outlining the scope of their investigation. Here is what we know so far:
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### 1. Mafia Involvement in Illegal Gambling Ring
The FBI disclosed that over 30 individuals were arrested as part of this operation, including 13 members of organized crime groups such as the Italian mafia, specifically the Los Cosa Nostra. The charges involve illegal gambling, wire fraud, and extortion.
There are two main indictments: one related to poker games and another connected to NBA games. The latter includes a sports corruption case involving Jones, Rozier, and Billups. All three are accused of leveraging insider information to manipulate bets and profit illegally.
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### 2. Terry Rozier Allegedly Faked an Injury to Profit from Bets
According to the FBI, Terry Rozier simulated an injury in a 2023 game to influence betting outcomes. After playing only nine minutes, Rozier reportedly requested to be taken out of the game due to this fabricated injury.
The defendants were allegedly informed beforehand about Rozier’s planned departure, prompting them to place bets totaling $200,000 on the “unders” of his prop bets. They subsequently profited from these wagers. Remarkably, the FBI stated that they even counted the illicit betting proceeds at Rozier’s residence.
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### 3. Jontay Porter Threatened to Join Due to Gambling Debts
Further information surfaced about former NBA player Jontay Porter, who had been arrested last year for participating in a similar sports gambling scheme. The FBI revealed that Porter was coerced into joining the illegal operation because of unpaid gambling debts.
The investigation also identified several NBA teams targeted in the betting ring, including the Toronto Raptors (Porter’s former team), Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
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### 4. Billups and Jones Used to Lure Players into Rigged Poker Games
In addition to sports betting, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones allegedly played roles in enticing individuals to participate in rigged poker games. These games were held in various locations such as the Hamptons, Miami, Las Vegas, and Manhattan.
Victims were attracted by the opportunity to meet and play poker with former NBA stars like Billups and Jones. However, these games were manipulated using advanced cheating devices—rigged shuffling machines transmitted card information to operators off-site, who then relayed the details covertly to accomplices at the table.
Other cheating methods included special contact lenses, hidden cameras, specialized glasses, and even X-ray poker tables.
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### FBI Operations: “Nothing But Net” and “Royal Flush”
The FBI named the broader sports gambling investigation “Operation Nothing But Net” while the poker-related inquiry is known as “Operation Royal Flush.”
As this complex case unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, potentially exposing deeper ties between professional sports figures and illegal gambling enterprises.
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Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-what-did-the-fbi-press-conference-nba-gambling-investigation-tell-us-all-details-we-know-so-far