FBI arrests NBA figures in major sports betting and poker scandal
A major FBI operation has led to the arrest of several prominent NBA figures, including Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.
Federal investigations uncovered two large illegal schemes: one involving sports betting and another involving rigged poker games, in collaboration with well-known American mafia families.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, over 30 people were arrested, including former player and coach Damon Jones. The schemes are believed to have operated for years, illegally generating millions of dollars.
Billups is accused of participating in a poker network that used cheating technology to manipulate game outcomes, while Rozier is suspected of using inside information to influence bets on his performance in a 2023 game.
The NBA has responded by immediately suspending both individuals and is carefully reviewing the charges. Federal authorities have described this operation as one of the largest interventions against corruption and manipulation in American professional sports.
This event has shaken the world of American basketball, raising renewed concerns about the integrity of the game and the links between sports, gambling, and organized crime.
