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Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups left an Oregon federal courthouse Thursday without answering questions after being arrested as part of an FBI gambling investigation.
Federal officials announced that Billups was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. He is scheduled to be arraigned at a federal courthouse in New York on November 24.
He was released under certain conditions. He was forced to surrender his passport and was barred from any gambling-related activities and any contact with any of the more than 30 co-defendants also charged, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player and assistant coach Damon Jones. He cannot travel outside of Oregon and Colorado.
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Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups walks toward a vehicle after his appearance in federal court Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
“The conditions are standard and common in allegations like this,” her lawyer Chris Heywood told The Oregonian. “People shouldn’t draw conclusions from that.”
Billups was seen leaving the courtroom wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. He was on the sidelines of the Trail Blazers game Wednesday night.
The NBA placed him on administrative leave.
“We are reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” the league said. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are immediately placed on 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 Trail Blazers said Thiago Splitter will serve as interim head coach.
“We are aware of the allegations involving head coach Chauncey Billups, and the Trail Blazers are fully cooperating with the investigation,” the team said. “Billups has been placed on immediate leave and Tiago Splitter will serve as interim head coach. Any further questions should be directed to the NBA.”
“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows that he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat or defraud others,” read the statement, via ESPN. “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the feds accuse him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom. He would not risk those things for anything, much less a game of cards.
“Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has never bet on basketball games, provided inside information, or sacrificed the trust of his team and the League because doing so would tarnish the game to which he has devoted his entire life. Chauncey Billups has never backed down. He has no plans to do so now. He will fight these allegations with the same tenacity that has marked his 28-year career. We look forward to our day in court.”
Billups and Jones were charged as part of an investigation into rigged poker games with alleged ties to the La Costa Nostra crime families.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups walks toward a vehicle after his appearance in federal court Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
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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.
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.
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.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups listens during a news conference Friday, June 27, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Billups was a three-time All-Star and NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons.
