Billups, Rozier, Damon Jones Charged in NBA Probe

Federal authorities arrested Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and charged former player/coach Damon Jones in a DOJ-FBI probe into illegal sports betting and Mafia-linked underground poker operations, officials said. Investigators allege Rozier shared inside information on rosters and benchings and at times feigned an injury to benefit bettors, while Billups is accused of participating in an organized-crime-backed poker ring and Jones is accused of providing strategic details and receiving payments. The investigation, handled by the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office and tied to an earlier probe involving Jontay Porter, has produced dozens of arrests — reports say at least 31 people were arrested. Officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and New York prosecutors, scheduled a press briefing to announce the charges; the NBA, teams and attorneys were contacted and offered limited immediate comment. Authorities say the cases target manipulation of player-prop bets and the use of technology to facilitate rigged poker operations, and the investigation remains active.