Published on: October 24, 2025, 09:05h.
Updated on: October 24, 2025, 09:05h.
- Rozier and Billups were arraigned yesterday
- Two segments of the FBI’s illegal gambling indictment pertain to a sports betting scheme and an illegal poker operation
- The FBI reports involvement from four organized crime families
The NBA has placed Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups on immediate leave due to their alleged connections to two distinct betting scandals that surfaced yesterday.
Significant FBI Operation
The FBI conducted a sweeping operation, arresting 34 individuals, including Rozier, Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones, following a lengthy investigation into fraud and illegal gambling activities. The indictment includes two parts and was executed across 11 U.S. states.
Both Billups and Rozier were arraigned yesterday.
One investigation uncovered an illegal poker operation orchestrated by the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families. Rigged poker games utilized a shuffling machine capable of card counting and an X-ray table that could read face-down cards, relaying information to a control room where players were defrauded of thousands. Billups was reportedly used to attract poker players, with crime organizations enforcing collection on gambling debts.
Illegal Poker Operations
The second gambling scheme allegedly involved Rozier removing himself from an NBA game while with the Charlotte Hornets in March 2023, just ten minutes into the match, citing an injury. This was purportedly to cash in on $200,000 worth of prop bets related to his performance in that game.
Unusual betting patterns on that game prompted sportsbooks to pause prop betting.
An NYPD spokesperson indicated that Rozier’s proceeds were driven to his residence and counted there.
Government’s Bold Accusations
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. expressed: “[The first indictment concerning Rozier] includes six defendants alleged to be involved in one of the most audacious sports corruption cases since the legalization of online sports betting in the U.S.”
“This structure indicates an insider betting conspiracy exploiting confidential details about NBA athletes and teams,” Nocella stated.
A spokesperson from a licensed sports betting operator in Ontario remarked to Casino.org: “This situation is a catastrophic blow to the NBA.”
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, asserted that his client had been previously exonerated by the NBA for any wrongdoing in 2023.
Trail Blazers Choose Interim Coach
“They interviewed him twice,” Trusty said. “They confiscated his phone, examined all content, and concluded that there was nothing incriminating.”
Rozier was detained early yesterday at the team hotel in Orlando after playing against the Magic the previous night, during which he sat out due to an injury.
“It’s unfortunate that instead of allowing him to voluntarily surrender, they opted for a photo opportunity,” Trusty added. “They sought the misplaced prestige of humiliating a professional athlete with a perp walk, reflecting poorly on their intentions in this case.”
Rozier is in the final year of a four-year contract, slated to earn a base salary of $26.1 million this season.
Shaquille O’Neal Expresses Shame
Billups’ lawyer stated that his client would never jeopardize his Hall of Fame status for any gain. The Trail Blazers have appointed Tiago Splitter as their interim head coach.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed that three of the arrested individuals were linked to both the illegal poker operation and the sports betting scheme.
Organized crime members were also included in yesterday’s FBI arrests.
The authorities indicated that games involving the Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors were also implicated in potential game-fixing schemes.
Expectations of More Arrests
“If you violate the law, we will pursue you, whether you’re a player or a coach in the NBA,” remarked FBI Director Kash Patel on Fox News. “These individuals allied themselves with La Cosa Nostra and four of New York City’s five main crime families to construct gambling empires. They had devices at the poker table that facilitated these operations, with professional athletes stepping off the court to fulfill prop bets.”
The FBI anticipates that more individuals may come forward voluntarily.
During an NBA pre-game broadcast last night, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal stated: “All these individuals understood what was on the line, and I am deeply ashamed they’ve implicated themselves, their families, and the NBA in such a scandal. We are all aware of the rules and the legal boundaries, and it’s regrettable. While one is innocent until proven guilty, the FBI typically has substantial evidence when they make arrests.”