The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 others in connection with two major gambling operations. Authorities allege that these schemes involved leaking inside information about NBA athletes and rigging poker games connected to Mafia families.
Billups is charged with conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to La Cosa Nostra organized crime families. According to prosecutors, unsuspecting gamblers lost at least $7 million in these games. Rozier faces accusations in a separate scheme involving the use of private information about players to place bets on NBA games.
Federal prosecutors in New York unsealed two indictments related to the case. Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, described it as “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.” He added, “My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out.”
Both Billups and Rozier face charges of money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy. Former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones was also charged and is accused of participating in both schemes.
FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The fraud is mind boggling. We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multiyear investigation.”
Billups reportedly earned about $106 million during his 17-year career, while Rozier made approximately $160 million playing for Boston, Miami, and Charlotte.
Following their arrests, both men have been placed on leave from their teams. The NBA stated it is cooperating with authorities: “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
After his arrest, Rozier appeared in federal court in Florida wearing a Charlotte Hornets sweatshirt along with handcuffs and shackles. His lawyer Jim Trusty said his client is “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.” Trusty criticized officials for not allowing Rozier to surrender voluntarily.
Authorities allege that Mafia families profited from the poker scheme by running illegal games that required sharing proceeds with Gambino, Genovese, and Bonnano crime families. Court documents state that members of these families also committed violent acts such as assault and extortion to enforce debts.
Prosecutors are seeking detention for Mafia members implicated in the case while recommending release for Billups and Jones under strict bail conditions including travel restrictions and a ban on gambling.
In relation to sports betting allegations, Rozier and others are accused of accessing confidential information from NBA players or coaches that could affect performance outcomes. This information was then allegedly used by others to place wagers on so-called prop bets—wagers based on specific player statistics during games.
One cited incident occurred when Rozier played for Charlotte Hornets in 2023; he reportedly told associates he would leave a game early due to injury so they could profit from bets on his performance stats. That night against the New Orleans Pelicans he left after just over nine minutes citing a foot issue.
The indictments reference several unnamed NBA players whose injury status or availability was discussed as part of betting activity; there is no indication those players were aware or involved.
Rozier had previously been investigated by the NBA but played no part in Wednesday’s season opener between Miami Heat and Orlando Magic.
