Feds Uncover Mafia NBA Poker Scam Cheating $7M Using High-Tech Gadgets

Federal prosecutors have uncovered a sprawling illegal poker ring orchestrated by members of four notorious Mafia families, including the Gambino, Bonanno, Genovese, and Luchese crime families, that rigged games using advanced technology such as modified card shufflers, hidden cameras, and contact lenses to cheat wealthy players out of over $7 million. High-profile figures like Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones were implicated as "face cards," attracting victims to these underground Texas Hold 'Em games held in locations like Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas. Victims, often referred to as "fish," were lured by the chance to play with celebrities but were systematically cheated through a sophisticated scheme where even dealers and technology were complicit. When victims failed to repay their gambling debts, Mafia enforcers sent threatening messages and committed violent acts to enforce collections, as revealed by texts and assaults described in the indictment. The FBI labeled the operation as a "mind-boggling" fraud that also funneled profits to fund organized crime activities, highlighting the enduring intersection of professional sports, illegal gambling, and organized crime. This case raises broader concerns about the infiltration of criminal enterprises into sports betting and gambling industries.