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NEW YORK – Former NBA players Chauncey Billups – currently head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers – and Damon Jones were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit both wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly participating in rigged poker games.
Billups and Jones were allegedly nicknamed “face cards” who, according to the indictment, were “members of the cheating teams and received a portion of the proceeds of crime in exchange for their participation in the scheme.” The scheme caused victims to lose at least $7.15 million, dating back to April 2019, according to the Justice Department.
“Billups and Jones, in particular…were used to lure victims to the games because of their status as former professional athletes,” the DOJ said.
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Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones were arrested Thursday in connection with an illegal poker scheme. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images; Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
The DOJ added that in April 2019, Billups was one of five defendants who “organized and participated in rigged poker games” in Las Vegas “using a rigged shuffling machine,” with victims losing at least $50,000. One of the defendants texted another co-conspirator to say that Billups should deliberately lose his hand to avoid suspicion of cheating.
During that match, a defendant said one of the victims “acted like she wanted Chauncey to have his money” because he was “hit by Billups,” according to officials.
In October 2020, Billups allegedly received $50,000 following a rigged poker game. Before a match, Jones allegedly asked for a $10,000 advance and said he “needed” a “bad” action. He received $2,500.
Head coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers watches the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on January 11, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
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In response to being coached on how to cheat, Jones responded, “Lol man, y’all call Djones cause y’all know I know what I’m doing!!” according to the DOJ.
“We are reviewing the federal indictments announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said in a statement.
Billups’ career earnings exceeded $100 million as a player, while Jones earned at least $20 million.
It’s unclear how Billups and Jones became friends with the other defendants, many of whom are part of three separate Italian-American crime families.
Jones, a former NBA coach, is also a suspect in the sports betting case in which Terry Rozier was arrested Thursday.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups leads his team against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on April 4, 2024. (Matt Marton/Imagn Images)
More than 30 people were arrested Thursday for their alleged roles in the two schemes.
