Former Detroit Pistons star and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Chauncey Billups, was released from custody after having a court hearing following his involvement in a major FBI investigation into illegal gambling and game-fixing schemes.
More than 30 people across the country face charges, including Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.
Prosecutors say the case involves conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Billups, known as “Mr. Big Shot,” was charged Thursday (Oct. 23) morning with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games linked to La Cosa Nostra organized crime families.
The FBI Director Kash Patel described the fraud as “mind-boggling,” involving tens of millions of dollars over several years.
According to a 22-page indictment, the poker games were organized by alleged mafia members in 2019 in Las Vegas, New York, and Miami.
Billups was taken into custody on Oct. 23 in suburban Portland. He was on the sidelines for Portland’s season-opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22.
The scheme used advanced technology, including shuffling machines and X-ray equipment to read cards face down on the table.
Billups was allegedly introduced to the scheme in 2019 by Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, who also played briefly for the Pistons.
Investigators called Billups and Jones “face cards,” indicating they were deeply involved in the scheme.
The alleged poker scheme generated $7.15 million in profits, with $50,000 wired to Billups in 2020.
Billups was the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and spent eight seasons with the Pistons, including leading the team to the 2004 NBA championship and earning Finals MVP honors.
The NBA has placed Billups on immediate leave, naming Tiago Splitter as interim head coach.
The league issued a statement emphasizing cooperation with authorities and the integrity of the game.
Billups was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Federal Court in Portland. He was released on bond, surrendered his passport, and is restricted from traveling outside Oregon and Colorado.
He is scheduled to appear in Federal Court in New York City on Nov. 24.
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