Chauncey Billups Pleads Not Guilty in Federal Case Alleging Mob-Backed Poker Scheme
Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges tied to an alleged mob-linked operation that rigged high-stakes poker games.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Billups, a Basketball Hall of Famer and the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn for arraignment on money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy counts. Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years. Authorities say the scheme, which federal prosecutors tied to organized crime families, used technology and deception to defraud players in games held in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons.
Prosecutors estimate the poker operation defrauded victims of roughly $7 million beginning in at least 2019. The indictment alleges the scheme employed modified card-shuffling machines, concealed cameras in chip trays, specialized sunglasses and table-mounted X-ray equipment to read cards. Organizers are accused of funneling a share of proceeds to members of the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno families, who allegedly used violence and extortion to enforce debts and protect the business.
Billups, 49, was released on a $5 million bond secured by his family’s Colorado home. Conditions of release include a prohibition on gambling, no contact with co-defendants or identified victims, surrender of his passport and limits on interstate travel to a small set of approved jurisdictions, including Oregon, New York and Washington, D.C. He spoke only to answer the judge’s procedural questions; his attorney, Marc Mukasey, entered the not guilty plea on his behalf. Billups and dozens of co-defendants – more than 30 people were charged in the sweep announced by prosecutors on Oct. 23 – are due back in federal court on March 4 for further proceedings.
Prosecutors also allege that Billups, once an NBA star with roughly $106 million in career earnings, served as a celebrity draw or “face card” to attract wealthy, unsuspecting players to the games. The indictment claims he received portions of proceeds from some sessions, citing a direct wire transfer of $50,000 after a rigged game in October 2020.
Career and Immediate Fallout
Billups’ rise in basketball is well documented: selected third overall in the 1997 NBA draft, a five-time All-Star, 2004 NBA Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year. After a broadcasting stint, he turned to coaching and was hired by Portland in 2021; the Trail Blazers signed him to a multiyear extension earlier this year. Following his arrest, the team placed him on unpaid leave and named assistant coach Tiago Splitter as interim head coach.
Among those charged alongside Billups are former NBA players and coaches, including Damon Jones, who appeared with Billups at Monday’s status conference. Other basketball figures named in the broader indictment include Terry Rozier. Prosecutors say some defendants are additionally charged with operating an illegal gambling enterprise and extortion.
Billups’ lead defense lawyer has publicly disputed the allegations. "Chauncey Billups is a man of integrity who has built a lifetime reputation in basketball and in communities across the country", Chris Heywood said in response to the indictment. "To believe he would risk a Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom for a card game defies common sense. He will vigorously defend himself against these charges."
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Analysis and What to Watch Next
A former federal prosecutor who has reviewed the public filings cautioned that the case could pivot on evidence of intent and the strength of electronic forensic proof. "Prosecutors will rely heavily on financial tracing and the technical forensic work that ties altered devices and communications to specific games and payments", the attorney said. "Defendants will likely attack the chain of custody and argue that celebrity presence does not equate to knowing participation in a fraud scheme."
An independent sports-betting analyst noted the reputational stakes for professional sports and legal sportsbooks. "Allegations that insiders or celebrities help facilitate conspiracies to exploit players or bettors threaten public confidence in wagering markets", the analyst said. "Regulators and leagues will closely monitor how the evidence unfolds and what it means for integrity safeguards in both brick-and-mortar and online play."
The case remains in its early stages. Prosecutors indicated plea discussions have begun with some defendants, suggesting that partial resolutions are possible ahead of trial dates. The March status hearing will be a focal point for developments on discovery, potential motions and whether additional charges or plea agreements emerge.
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