Just two days into the NBA season, shocking news broke that the Portland Trailblazers head coach, Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested in an FBI investigation into sports gambling.
While these arrests were separate, one was tied to a poker scheme and the other linked to betting activity. Prosecutors say that the cases overlap as new details continue to emerge.
Together, Joseph Nocella Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Kash Patel, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charges.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia, stated:
“Former and current NBA players and coaches, including Terry Rozier, Damon Jones and additional co-conspirators, allegedly informed the defendants and others of confidential information relating to upcoming NBA games and player performances, such as pre-release medical information and a player’s intention to alter their upcoming game performance, which favored certain bettors within their inner social circle. This alleged collusion resulted in the defendants secretly pocketing their lavish winnings and corrupting NBA games. The FBI will never turn a blind eye to any insider betting scheme within sporting industries – regardless of title or professional affiliation – to protect its integrity and afford all participants a fair chance to win big.”
The six main defendants involved are: Eric Earnest, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen, Damon Jones, Deniro Laster, and Terry Rozier. These six defendants were unsealed with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy to use inside information to profit from illegal betting with others.
Billups, a Hall of Famer and a respected name in the NBA, was allegedly connected to a rigged poker game scheme that dates back to 2019. The poker games reportedly included several members of the mafia crime family.
Billups was not charged in the same incident as Terry Rozier, which centered around sports betting. However, the Prosecutors say he matches the description of “Co-Conspirator 8,” who allegedly tipped Erik Earnest off that the Trail Blazers would be resting their top athletes before their March 23, 2023, game.
“The co-conspirator is described by prosecutors as a resident of Oregon who played in the NBA from 1997 through 2014 and has been a coach since 2021. Billups played in the NBA from 1997 until 2014, and the Blazers hired Billups as their head coach in June 2021.”
The Miami Heat played the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The 31-year-old was taken into custody in Orlando.
One example of his involvement dates back to March 23, 2023, when he played for the Charlotte Hornets. Prosecutors say Rozier provided information about himself and the game to his friend Deniro Laster. Laster then placed over $200,000 in wagers based on that inside information.
The NBA had initially conducted its own investigation and cleared Rozier. On Jan. 30, 2025, the Eastern District of New York launched its own investigation, which led to his arrest this week.
The scandal involving over 30 suspects, including current and former NBA, and a Hall of Famer, has shocked the world and shed light on the dark side of professional basketball.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated:
“Rigging a professional basketball game for personal profit is as immoral as it is illegal. This investigation exposed a gambling ring built around the NBA, where players and associates allegedly used inside information and even faked injuries to fraudulently manipulate bets on games. The fact that some players altered their performance or took themselves out of games to ensure these bets paid out is an offense to every player and fan…”
As the story continues to develop, more information will reveal whether the allegations hold and what it means for the NBA’s integrity moving forward.
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