Justice Department expects to extend plea deals to 12 in NBA-Mafia rigged poker case
Justice Department Anticipates Expanding Plea Agreements to 12 in NBA-Mafia Poker Scandal
Updated Status on Mob-Linked Gambling Case
On Tuesday, a court filing revealed federal prosecutors are set to broaden plea agreements to twelve individuals implicated in a major gambling operation tied to organized crime. The document, submitted ahead of a status hearing scheduled for Wednesday, does not yet name which defendants are likely to accept the offers. The case, which has drawn significant attention, involves allegations of manipulated poker games and sports betting schemes connected to the Mafia.
Indictments and Key Figures
Last year, prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York charged over 30 people in two separate gambling investigations. One case centers on poker games allegedly orchestrated by Mafia-linked groups, while the other involves insider knowledge used to place bets on NBA matches. Among the accused are members of four prominent crime families, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and ex-NBA player Damon Jones. The indictment highlights the role of “face cards”—well-known athletes—who were enlisted to attract high-profile victims to the rigged games.
Government’s Plea Deal Strategy
During a Tuesday meeting with U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes, prosecutors indicated they aim to finalize formal plea agreements with nearly half the defendants in the case. The filing notes that “productive conversations” have taken place with counsel for at least nine others, fostering optimism about additional deals before trial proceedings begin. All participants are required to attend the status conference in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Billups, a Hall of Famer, previously denied money laundering and wire fraud charges. Jones has also pleaded not guilty to claims of profiting from fixed poker games and providing bettors with confidential sports information. Rozier, uncharged in the poker case, is facing separate allegations related to the sports betting scheme.
Since November, the government has systematically released discovery materials, including data from seven electronic devices, over 100,000 pages of financial and phone records, and more than 800 surveillance images. The evidence also includes pole camera footage from a poker game location and vast amounts of data from iCloud accounts and other digital sources.
“Federal authorities anticipate offering plea agreements to twelve individuals,” stated the filing, underscoring the government’s push to resolve the case through negotiated settlements.
Chloe Atkins covers national security and legal affairs for NBC News, based in New York. Tom Winter serves as NBC’s correspondent specializing in law enforcement and intelligence matters.
