Former NBA players Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones are expected to face legal consequences for their alleged involvement in a multi-million-dollar rigged poker scheme that defrauded victims of over $7.15 million. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted the two athletes for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, marking a significant legal reckoning for high-profile individuals who used their status to manipulate victims in illegal gambling operations.
The indictment reveals that Billups and Jones were designated as ‘face cards’—a term used to describe individuals who were strategically used to attract victims to the rigged games. The DOJ reports that the scheme, which unfolded from April 2019 to October 2020, involved at least five defendants who orchestrated the fraud using a rigged shuffling machine. Billups, currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was allegedly instructed to purposefully lose hands during games to avoid suspicion. One co-conspirator admitted that Billups’ reputation as a former star player made him a prime candidate to lure victims into the game, with some participants reportedly expressing admiration for his athletic prowess.
According to the DOJ, the scheme resulted in losses exceeding $7.15 million, with one game alone costing victims at least $50,000. The indictment also details a specific instance where Jones, a former NBA coach, allegedly requested a $10,000 advance before a game, stating that he needed ‘action bad.’ Jones reportedly received $2,500, highlighting the financial motivations driving the criminal enterprise. One of the defendants also sent a text message to another co-conspirator, noting that a victim had ‘acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money’ due to the star-struck reaction to Billups’ presence.
The case has drawn attention due to the involvement of three separate Italian-American crime families, suggesting the operation may have had deeper links to organized criminal networks. Jones, a former NBA coach, is also a suspect in a broader sports gambling investigation involving Terry Rozier, who was recently arrested as part of the same FBI probe. The case has led to over 30 arrests across two interconnected schemes, underscoring the scale of the corruption within the sports gambling ecosystem.
In response to the allegations, the NBA has issued a statement confirming that both Billups and Rozier are being placed on immediate leave from their teams. The league emphasized that it is cooperating with federal authorities and taking the accusations ‘with the utmost seriousness’ as it seeks to protect the integrity of the sport. Billups, whose career earnings exceeded $100 million, and Jones, who earned at least $20 million during his time in the NBA, are now facing significant legal and reputational repercussions for their alleged roles in the scheme.
The case represents a rare intersection of sports fame and criminal activity, illustrating how even respected public figures can be entangled in illegal operations. The DOJ’s indictment highlights the role of deception and manipulation in modern gambling scams, with the use of former athletes as decoys to entice unsuspecting victims. As the legal proceedings unfold, the incident serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for high-profile individuals to be exploited in illicit schemes, especially when their public status is leveraged for financial gain.