Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, is at the center of a startling legal issue after police revealed on Thursday that he is one of the people indicted in relation to an illegal poker operation that is reportedly connected to the Mafia. An already explosive scenario that is rocking the sports world is further complicated by the fact that Terry Rozier, the guard for the Miami Heat, is being charged in a different but connected illegal gambling case.

Billups is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which, if proven, may have major legal repercussions, according to federal authorities. What started out as rumors of clandestine transactions and underground gaming has now developed into a well-publicized investigation with prominent figures entangled in its web.

High-stakes poker games were meticulously crafted to look authentic, even including famous basketball players at the table to add legitimacy. However, behind the scenes, the matches were allegedly rigged to benefit the organizers, who had access to advanced equipment such as altered shuffling machines and even X-ray technology, which allowed them to read cards that were face down on the table.

The illegal enterprise, according to officials, started in 2019 and involved upscale locations in Miami, Las Vegas, Manhattan, and the Hamptons. It made over $7 million in revenues, and it's still growing. A pattern of fraud and manipulation that reached deep into underground gaming circles was exposed by the extensive inquiry, which took place over the course of two years.

Chauncey Billups was coaching the Portland Trail Blazers in their season opening, a difficult defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves, only one night prior to the allegations being made public. Billups, who was formerly hailed as a Hall of Fame point guard, established his history with the Detroit Pistons, where he was selected to five All-Star teams during his 17-year NBA career. He also memorably guided the team to the 2004 NBA Championship, winning Finals MVP for his leadership and clutch play.

That legendary reputation is being put to the ultimate test. The list of suspects, according to prosecutors, includes 13 members and affiliates of the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese criminal families in addition to current and past NBA players and coaches. This is a unique and concerning intersection of organized crime and professional sports. The business was described by authorities as a "sprawling criminal enterprise" that used manipulation and rigged games to "deceive unsuspecting gamblers."

Officials also announced charges in a "overlapping" case involving illicit prop betting on NBA games in a separate but connected investigation. Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat and Damon Jones, a former assistant coach and player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, are among those indicted. This is just another startling development in an investigation that is becoming more and more widespread in the basketball community.

Damon Jones, like Billups, is currently facing significant federal allegations, such as conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. Prosecutors claim that Jones and Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, gave private information to four other defendants, who then distributed it to a larger network of sports wagerers. The group allegedly exploited the insider information to place bets through physical betting establishments and internet sportsbooks, which forbid betting with nonpublic information.

Rozier, who is currently in his eleventh NBA season, has made 665 appearances and averaged 13.9 points per game. Prior to joining the Charlotte Hornets, he established himself as a reliable player during the Boston Celtics' playoff campaigns from 2016 to 2019. On Wednesday night in Orlando, his team began the 2025 season, but Rozier was still out due to a hamstring injury.

Jones, on the other hand, is accused of using unofficial connections to the Los Angeles Lakers to obtain confidential medical information on specific players. According to prosecutors, he then sold that sensitive information to his co-defendants, who used it to place strategic bets—turning locker-room whispers into lucrative, illicit gains.

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