NBA stars, mafia figures arrested in massive FBI illegal gambling and rigged poker investigation

An FBI-led investigation into illegal gambling and organized crime has resulted in the arrests of dozens of individuals, including NBA player Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, according to federal prosecutors on Thursday.

Rozier, 31, was among six people indicted for alleged betting irregularities involving NBA games. Prosecutors allege he conspired to manipulate betting outcomes by faking injuries, allowing associates to profit from insider knowledge. One cited incident involved a February 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, where Rozier reportedly exited early after scoring five points, leading to betting gains exceeding $200,000. His attorney, James Trusty, denied the claims, calling the sources “spectacularly in-credible” and saying Rozier “looks forward to winning this fight,” as reported by CBS News.

In a separate case, Billups, a former Hall of Fame player turned coach, was charged alongside 30 others in connection with mafia-linked rigged poker games. Prosecutors said the games, connected to several of New York’s major crime families, used technology such as marked cards, contact lenses, and X-ray tables to defraud victims of millions of dollars. Players were allegedly lured into games with high-profile athletes before being targeted for theft and extortion.

Both Rozier and Billups have been placed on administrative leave by the NBA, which said it was reviewing the indictments. “The integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the league stated.

FBI Director Kash Patel described the arrests as part of an “extraordinary, coordinated takedown across 11 states,” involving “tens of millions of dollars in fraud.” Prosecutors warned that while all defendants are presumed innocent, “their winning streak has ended.”