Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier among 30+ arrested in massive gambling and sports rigging scandal: All you need to know

Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers head coach, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Thursday (October 23) in a sweeping FBI gambling probe. The federal authorities have arrested over 30 individuals, including Billups and Rozier, in a sprawling probe into illegal gambling and sports rigging tied to notorious organized crime syndicates. The operation, dubbed one of the largest takedowns of its kind, exposes deep-rooted corruption infiltrating professional sports.

Details about the arrests

The arrests were unveiled Thursday during a high-stakes press conference in Brooklyn, New York, where FBI Director Kash Patel stated, “We are here in New York to announce a historic arrest across a wide, sweeping criminal enterprise that envelops both the NBA and La Cosa Nostra."

Among those in custody are Billups, the respected Trail Blazers coach and 2004 NBA Finals MVP, nabbed in Portland, Oregon; Rozier, a dynamic 10-year veteran detained in Orlando, Florida; and ex-NBA journeyman Damon Jones, 49, who suited up for 10 teams over a 13-year career, including stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jones, along with the others, faces charges stemming from two intertwined fraud schemes: underground sports betting rings and rigged high-stakes poker games.

The US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella emphasized the NBA's role in the probe. “The NBA has cooperated with the law enforcement investigations,” he said. However, NBA has not commented on the matter yet.

Rigged games and Mob money laundering exposed

At the heart of the indictments lies a nationwide poker-fixing conspiracy including 31 defendants. Prosecutors allege they deployed “high-tech cheating technology to steal millions of dollars from victims in underground poker games that were secretly fixed.” These illicit sessions, held in the New York metro area, were allegedly bankrolled by the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families, pillars of La Cosa Nostra.

FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia gave details. “This alleged illegal gambling operation hustled unwitting victims out of tens of millions of dollars, and created a financial pipeline for La Cosa Nostra to help fund and facilitate their organized criminal activity,” Raia stated.

Who is Chauncey Billups, and what are the allegations?

Chauncey Billups, 49, a 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, is a basketball icon. Drafted third overall in 1997, he earned the “Mr. Big Shot” nickname by guiding the Detroit Pistons to a 2004 NBA Finals victory over the Lakers, securing Finals MVP. A five-time All-Star from 2006-2010, Billups moved from a 17-year playing career to ESPN analyst, Clippers assistant, and, since 2021, Trail Blazers head coach in his fifth season.

Billups was arrested in Oregon on Thursday. He is implicated in an underground poker ring tied to organized crime. The charges focus on high-stakes games in cities like Manhattan and Las Vegas.

What led to Terry Rozier’s arrest?

Terry Rozier, the 30-year-old Miami Heat guard, was detained in Orlando Thursday morning, ESPN reported. A 2015 first-round pick, Rozier joined Miami in 2024 after playing for Boston and Charlotte Hornets. Known for his remarkable scoring, Rozier is accused of leaking roster details to manipulate player prop bets.

A game involving Rozier that has been in question was played on March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of that game and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season.

Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.

In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period, a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.

How does this impact the NBA’s gambling policies?

These arrests intensify the NBA’s ongoing struggle with betting scandals. With partnerships like DraftKings fueling legal sports wagering, the league faces growing risks. Recent cases, like Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban for leaking game info, highlight the issue.