A massive FBI crackdown has rocked the world of basketball and organised crime, leading to the arrest of more than 30 individuals including current and former NBA stars and prominent mafia figures over allegations of illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.
Among those detained are Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach and former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, and ex-player Damon Jones. The arrests stem from two overlapping federal indictments announced in New York and Oregon on Thursday.
Two major criminal cases unveiled
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the “mind-boggling” operation uncovered two interconnected criminal enterprises: one centered on sports betting manipulation and another on rigged underground poker games allegedly tied to New York’s most powerful mafia families.
Prosecutors say Rozier and several associates used insider information including details about injuries and locker room news to place fraudulent bets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In one case, Rozier allegedly informed a co-conspirator he would fake an injury during a 2023 Charlotte Hornets game, allowing illegal bettors to profit from his early exit.
Meanwhile, Billups and others were charged in connection with a nationwide network of rigged poker games that reportedly used high-tech cheating tools such as x-ray tables, marked cards, and hidden cameras. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says victims were “cheated out of millions of dollars” across several states.
“These were not small-time games,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. “They were highly sophisticated fraud operations involving former professional athletes, organized crime families, and advanced technology designed to ensure victims never had a fair chance.”
NBA reacts, players plead innocence
The NBA has placed both Billups and Rozier on immediate leave pending further investigation, confirming that the league is cooperating with federal authorities. “Integrity of competition is paramount,” the NBA said in a statement Thursday night.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, denied the allegations, calling them “baseless” and insisting his client never faked an injury. “Terry had a legitimate medical issue and looks forward to clearing his name,” he said outside a Florida courtroom. Rozier was released after posting bond, secured by his $6 million home.
Billups, who appeared in an Oregon court later in the day, was ordered to surrender his passport and refrain from gambling while awaiting trial. His lawyer, Chris Heywood, cautioned against “jumping to conclusions” and said the former Detroit Pistons star “intends to fully cooperate.”
Mafia ties and national impact
The FBI says the investigation — which involved the Genovese, Gambino, and Lucchese crime families — has been ongoing for several years. Agents allege mob figures helped launder betting profits and enforce debts through intimidation, assault, and robbery.
“These cases underscore how organized crime continues to exploit the sports industry,” said Patel. “The lines between professional sports, gambling, and criminal enterprises are blurring — and that’s deeply concerning.”
Growing concerns over sports betting
The scandal has reignited debate over the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting in the U.S. Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to regulate gambling, the industry has exploded — with Americans wagering nearly $100 billion legally in 2025 alone.
Senator Richard Blumenthal warned, “We’ve allowed the betting industry to embed itself into sports without meaningful oversight. Scandals like this were inevitable.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who earlier this week called for tighter federal regulations, faces renewed pressure to safeguard the league’s credibility. The National Basketball Players Association also issued a statement urging “due process” for players while emphasizing the importance of maintaining the sport’s integrity.
As court proceedings unfold, more revelations are expected about how deep the schemes went — and whether additional players or officials were involved.
Federal investigators, bolstered by cooperating witnesses, say they have ample evidence, including wire transfers, text messages, and intercepted communications. Trials are expected to begin in early 2026.
“This is one of the largest gambling investigations in sports history,” said Patel. “It’s a warning — no one, not even NBA stars, is above the law.”
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