Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been charged in a sweeping federal probe into an alleged illegal poker scheme tied to organized crime, sources told The Post.
The 49-year-old former NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons was arrested in Oregon Thursday morning, the night after coaching his team in their season opener.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier aka “Scary Terry” was charged as well, in a separate but related illegal gambling case, ABC reported.
Chauncey Billups has been charged in an alleged illegal poker scheme tied to organized crime, sources say. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (bottom), also known as “Scary Terry,” was charged as well, in a separate but related illegal gambling case, according to reports. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Billups, an NBA Hall of Famer, has been charged with partaking in an alleged illegal poker ring tied to the Gambino, Bonanno, and Genovese crime families, sources told the Post.
A total of 31 people across the country are charged with running rigged games, which took place in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas, sources said.
The players involved were being paid by mobsters to play in card games fixed with technology and card shuffling machines to give the house the advantage, said sources familiar with the case.
The athletes were told to take a dive when they had to and win when they were told. It didn’t appear as if they were attempting to pay off any debts, sources said.
A total of 31 people across the country are charged with running rigged games, which took place in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas, sources said. EDNY
The players involved were being paid by mobsters to play in card games fixed with technology and card shuffling machines to give the house the advantage, according to sources. EDNY
The image above shows an X-ray table from one of the defendant’s iCloud accounts, according to reports. EDNY
Former NBA player Damon Jones, 49, who spent 11 years in the league with multiple teams, is also charged in the FBI’s investigation, according to sources.
Rozier had previously been under investigation for unusual betting activity during his time with the Hornets, specifically a March 2023 contest.
However, the NBA did not find any violation.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, said that his client met with NBA and FBI officials during 2023 regarding the case and slammed the manner in which he was taken into custody Thursday morning.
Surveillance photo of defendants ZILIANI and FAMA talking together at Sally’s Bar on October 4, 2023, according to reports. EDNY
Collage of three surveillance photos showing defendants Hoti, Trustman, Zhen Hu, and Becher near 147 Lexington Avenue, according to the indictment. EDNY
A photo shows a DeckMate 2 shuffler taken apart on a table. EDNY
“A long time ago, we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel,” Trusty told The Post.
Follow The Post’s live updates on the bombshell NBA, mafia gambling scandal
“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self-surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case,” he continued.
Illustration of indictment papers listing defendants, including Chauncey Billups, in an illegal sports gambling scheme. Getty Images
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers’ Damon Jones (left to right). AP
Also named in the sweeping case is reputed gangster Thomas “Tommy” Gelardo. Steven Hirsch
“Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight,” the attorney said.
Former NBA player Damon Jones, 49, who spent 11 years in the league with multiple teams, is also charged in the FBI’s investigation, according to sources.
The charges come less than a year after former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to tipping off gamblers to games he purposely was going to rig — and earning them $1 million — in an effort to clear his own gambling debt.
New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch (C) speaks alongside Joseph Nocella (L) and FBI Director Kash Patel (R) during a news conference to announce arrests tied to illegal sports betting and poker game schemes on October 23, 2025. AFP via Getty Images
US Attorney Joseph Nocella is speaking at a news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel next to him. AFP via Getty Images
Billups is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Oregon federal court on Thursday, but will eventually appear in Brooklyn federal court in the Eastern District of New York, which handled the case against Porter.
Billups, a five-time All-Star, was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame last year.
Prosecutors and FBI Director Kash Patel are expected to announce further details about the alleged schemes at a press conference in Brooklyn on Thursday morning. Also named in the sweeping case is reputed gangster Tommy Gelardo.