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The FBI and NYPD’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force coordinated the multi-year probe, which has now led to more than 30 arrests — among them, several high-profile NBA figures accused of leveraging insider access for profit and protection. A major scandal has rocked the basketball world after federal indictments revealed that current and former NBA players, including a Hall of Fame coach, were allegedly tied to Mafia-linked gambling rings.
Billups was allegedly involved in an underground poker network connected to organised crime families, where games were said to be fixed in exchange for payouts and influence, according to investigators. The operations functioned in two layers: an underground poker ring frequented by professional athletes and an illegal sports betting network that allegedly exploited NBA insider data, according to federal prosecutors. The unsealed court documents expose two interconnected criminal networks involving illegal poker operations, sports betting manipulation, and financial fraud totalling tens of millions of dollars. Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, was among the most prominent figures arrested. FBI Arrests NBA Stars In Gambling Case, Kash Patel Reveals Explosive Details Authorities claim Rozier participated in insider betting schemes, allegedly sharing or exploiting confidential game information to gain advantage in wagers. Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, was arrested alongside Billups for his alleged role in the same poker operation. Both were charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and gambling-related offences. Mafia intermediaries reportedly financed, protected, and profited from both systems. The investigation uncovered the use of offshore betting accounts, money laundering channels, and encrypted communication apps to conceal transactions.