The FBI held a press conference this morning unveiling details of an extensive sports gambling and game-rigging operation that has sent shockwaves through the sports world and beyond.
According to the FBI, current and former NBA players and coaches Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones are among 30 individuals arrested in a scheme that spanned more than a decade across 11 states. The operation reportedly involved La Cosa Nostra, the Italian mafia, and resulted in a range of charges including illegal gambling, wire fraud, and extortion.
Two Major Indictments
The FBI announced two separate but related indictments.
- The first involves six defendants accused of using insider information from NBA players and teams to manipulate prop bets. Prosecutors allege that the group leveraged personal connections to place high-stakes wagers, earning tens of thousands of dollars per bet.
- The second indictment charges 31 individuals with running a nationwide poker-rigging ring in which participants allegedly used high-tech cheating devices to steal millions from underground poker games.
While the investigations are separate, the FBI confirmed there are three overlapping defendants, including former NBA player and coach Damon Jones.
NBA Involvement and Insider Betting
One of the more shocking allegations involves Terry Rozier, who, according to the FBI, informed conspirators he would leave a March 23, 2023, game early due to injury. The group allegedly placed over $200,000 on unders for his prop bets, and when Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes, the wagers paid out tens of thousands of dollars in profit. The FBI says the winnings were later counted at Rozier’s house.
The investigation also found that former Raptors player Jontay Porter was pressured to participate in the gambling scheme after accumulating significant gambling debts.
Teams reportedly connected to betting activity include the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors.
Poker Games, Mafia Ties, and High-Tech Cheating
The poker-rigging operation, called “Operation Royal Flush,” allegedly targeted wealthy victims who were enticed by the chance to play alongside former athletes like Billups and Jones. These games were held in Miami, Las Vegas, the Hamptons, and Manhattan, all reportedly rigged using sophisticated cheating technology.
The FBI says defendants used altered shuffling machines, poker chip trays with hidden cameras, contact lenses that could read marked cards, and x-ray poker tables capable of seeing cards face down. In one instance, suspects reportedly robbed a victim at gunpoint to obtain one of the rigged shuffling devices.
“Operation Nothing But Net” and “Operation Royal Flush”
The FBI’s four-year investigation, which combined efforts from multiple field offices, was split into two operations:
- Operation Nothing But Net, focused on the NBA-related gambling and corruption case, and
- Operation Royal Flush, which targeted the poker rigging and mafia involvement.
Authorities say the combined schemes cost victims at least $7 million, with one individual losing as much as $1.8 million. Investigators reviewed thousands of hours of video footage and executed more than two dozen search warrants in pursuit of evidence.
Still Developing
As of now these are accusations based on the FBI’s investigation and no convictions have been made. More updates are expected as the Department of Justice releases further details and court proceedings begin.
