FBI Arrests 31 in Mafia-Linked NBA Gambling Ring Amid Political Allegations

FBI Director Kash Patel led a press conference announcing the arrest of over 30 individuals, including NBA figures such as Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, in a long-running investigation into a Mafia-backed illegal gambling operation involving rigged poker games and sports betting. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Royal Flush,” revealed tens of millions of dollars lost due to fraud, money laundering, and other crimes linked to organized crime families. ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith suggested the crackdown was politically motivated retaliation by President Trump against the NBA due to its left-wing activism and protests. Patel strongly refuted these claims, calling Smith's remarks "the single dumbest thing" he had heard and emphasized that arrests are made based on crimes, not politics. Smith later clarified he did not dispute the legitimacy of the investigation but maintained that the President is "coming" and will spare no one, a stance criticized for mixing sports commentary with political conjecture. The FBI director reiterated that the investigation has been ongoing for years and that they decide independently which arrests to make, dismissing the notion that the President directs such enforcement actions.