Indictments Unsealed in NBA Mafia-Linked Gambling Probe

Federal prosecutors unsealed sweeping indictments this week charging about 30 people — including Portland coach Chauncey Billups, Miami guard Terry Rozier and former player Damon Jones — in two related FBI investigations alleging illegal sports betting, insider-information schemes and multistate, mob-backed rigged poker games. Prosecutors allege conspirators used non-public NBA information about injuries and starting lineups to place leveraged bets and in at least one alleged instance orchestrated a fake injury to influence wagering. Separately, authorities say a racketeering poker operation employed tampered shuffling machines, X‑ray tables, marked cards, special lenses and wireless signaling to defraud high‑stakes players and siphon millions. Prosecutors contend four of New York’s five Mafia families backed the poker racket and that groups nicknamed “Face Cards” and “Quarterbacks/Drivers,” along with outside operators, formed a coordinated signaling network to manipulate games. The indictments, unsealed as the NBA season begins and sports betting expands, have prompted DOJ officials to warn investigations will pursue participants regardless of status, heightening legal and reputational risk for the league. Observers say the cases also raise questions about gambling addiction, player support, league safeguards and how sports will police integrity as wagering becomes more ubiquitous.