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According to ESPN, U.S. sports betting produced $13.7B in revenue in 2024. With so much money tied up in sports and gambling, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that corrupt schemes are uncovered regularly.
So far, 32 people have been arrested due to their involvement in the schemes, including the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat team.
These individuals, according to detectives, worked together to fix high-stakes poker games and certain NBA games.
The poker part of the operation involved convincing unwitting players to join in poker games for the opportunity to compete against former professional basketball players. Some of these former players included Portland Coach Chauncey Billups and NBA assistant coach and player Damo Jones.
From the outside, these poker games looked legitimate and realistic, but they were actually a scam to steal all the participants’ money. These former NBA players worked alongside La Cosa Nostra crime families to obtain sophisticated cheating technology like X-ray equipment, hidden cameras, special sunglasses, and altered card-shuffling machines. Then, they’d use this technology to rig the games. In all, at least $7 million was illegally obtained through these methods. A portion of that money went straight to criminal organizations and Mafia members.
Another illegal scam was also occurring alongside the rigged poker games. Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested for using private information about NBA players to win NBA bets.
First, Rozier would obtain private information from NBA players or coaches that might impact their performance. Then, he’d use that information and distribute it to others in a way that helped them win wagers they put on NBA games. It was discovered that several NBA players intentionally altered their performance in certain games and even took themselves out of games early to help rig certain bets.
For instance, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, Rozier allegedly told people he planned on leaving a specific game early so that they could place bets. Those individuals earned tens of thousands of dollars in that one instance alone.
A conspiracy to commit sports bribery is a felony offense punishable by up to five years in prison. A conspiracy to commit wire fraud via gambling is a felony that could result in up to 20 years in prison.
If you ever get accused of committing sports-related money laundering, fraud, or bribery, then it’s critical that you obtain a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Felony charges not only result in prison sentences, but they also lead to life-long consequences. Convicted felons lose the right to possess firearms, vote, and hold public office. You might also lose out on future employment opportunities.
Here at LV Criminal Defense, our team is prepared to advocate for you. Schedule a free case evaluation now by leaving your contact details on our online form.
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