US authorities announced several high-profile arrests on Thursday, including of a star player and a coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA), for alleged illegal sports betting.
Among those in custody are Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, both of whom were reportedly arrested after their teams' games on Wednesday.
The arrests are part of a sweeping investigation into illegal gambling that produced two indictments, the FBI said — one into players who are allegedly faking injuries to influence betting odds, and another involving an illegal poker ring tied to organized crime.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the allegations to reporters as mind-boggling. They include indictments in two major cases, officials said, both involving fraud.
The first case, known as operation nothing but bet, involves players and associates allegedly using insider information to manipulate wagers on major sports betting platforms. In some cases, players altered their performance or left games early to ensure profitable outcomes for bets that amounted to tens of thousands of dollars.
The second case is more complex and involves four of the five major crime families in New York as well as professional athletes, who allegedly participated in a scheme to rig illegal poker games and steal millions of dollars.
This involved using sophisticated technology, including special contact lenses and X-ray tables to read cards that were face down. Reports indicate that former professional athletes acted as “face cards” to lure victims into playing rigged games.
A total of 34 defendants were indicted on charges related to these fraud cases. Notably, Rozier is accused of allowing others to exploit knowledge of his planned exit from games due to injuries to place fraudulent bets. Meanwhile, Billups is implicated in the illegal poker scheme.
In response to the allegations, the NBA announced it is reviewing the federal indictments while placing both Rozier and Billups on immediate leave from their teams, emphasizing its commitment to the integrity of the game.
Authorities have highlighted that these schemes resulted in substantial thefts and robberies across several years, involving violent tactics and connections to organized crime.
