In a sweeping FBI operation spanning 11 states, NBA player Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have been arrested in connection with two major federal investigations involving illegal sports betting and mafia-linked poker games. The dramatic bust marks one of the most significant sports corruption cases in recent years, blending professional basketball with organized crime and millions in fraudulent winnings.
Federal prosecutors announced the arrests on Thursday, charging Rozier and Billups in separate indictments. Both men have denied the allegations, vowing to fight the charges in court.
Rozier, 31, is among six individuals accused of manipulating betting outcomes by faking injuries to influence gambling markets. Billups, meanwhile, is one of 31 defendants in a broader case tied to the New York mafia’s illegal poker network, which prosecutors say involved rigged games, intimidation, and advanced cheating technology.
Betting Scandal: NBA Games Under Investigation
According to court documents, the sports betting case centers on seven NBA games played between February 2023 and March 2024. Prosecutors allege Rozier and other players used insider information to manipulate bets on major online gambling platforms.
In one instance, Rozier allegedly told a friend he would leave a game early due to injury. The friend and associates placed over $200,000 in bets predicting Rozier would underperform. During the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans, Rozier played only nine minutes and scored five points before exiting with a sore right foot — far below his season average of 21 points per game.
Authorities said the scheme led to tens of thousands of dollars in illegal profits.
“This is one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since the legalization of online betting,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. He emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty but warned, “Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out.”
Rozier and Billups Respond to Allegations
Rozier’s attorney, James Trusty, strongly denied the claims, saying prosecutors were relying on “spectacularly incredible sources” and “not actual evidence of wrongdoing.” He confirmed Rozier was released on bail after putting up his $6 million Florida home as collateral.
Similarly, Chauncey Billups, who has been coaching the Portland Trail Blazers since 2021, was arrested in Oregon and released on bond. His lawyer Chris Heywood stated that Billups would “fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career.”
The NBA issued a statement confirming that both Rozier and Billups have been placed on immediate leave pending review.
Mafia, Rigged Poker Games, and High-Tech Cheating
The second indictment details a complex operation involving members of four major New York crime families — including the Bonanno, Genovese, and Gambino organizations. Prosecutors allege they rigged exclusive poker games in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons, often featuring high-profile athletes to lure wealthy victims.
Victims reportedly lost millions of dollars in the rigged games, which used advanced cheating tools such as marked cards, special contact lenses, altered shuffling machines, and even X-ray poker tables capable of reading face-down cards.
“What victims didn’t know was that everyone else at the table — from the dealer to the players — was in on the scam,” said Nocella.
When victims refused to pay, mafia members allegedly resorted to extortion, threats, and intimidation.
The FBI said the conspiracy defrauded victims out of over $7 million, with one individual losing $1.8 million in a single night. The charges include robbery, extortion, wire fraud, bank fraud, and illegal gambling.
A Nationwide Crackdown on Sports Corruption
FBI Director Kash Patel hailed the coordinated takedown as “extraordinary,” noting that it was the result of a multi-year investigation into overlapping sports and organized crime rings.
“We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft across multiple states,” Patel said during a press conference in Brooklyn. “This is just the beginning — we will continue to expose corruption at every level.”
The scandal also revives concerns over the risks of legalized sports betting, which exploded after the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to regulate gambling independently. Major sports leagues, including the NBA, have since entered partnerships with betting firms — a move critics argue blurs ethical boundaries.
The Fallout for the NBA
The arrests have cast a shadow over the start of the upcoming NBA season, raising fresh questions about player conduct, gambling integrity, and league oversight.
As New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch put it:
With both Rozier and Billups maintaining their innocence, the legal proceedings are expected to unfold over the coming months. The NBA and FBI continue to review the evidence as the sports world watches one of its most explosive scandals in years.
