Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier arrested by FBI for alleged illegal gambling

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested by the FBI on Thursday as part of two separate criminal cases tied to illegal sports betting and gambling operations. (ca.sports.yahoo.com)

Billups and Rozier were arrested in separate cases related to illegal betting that the FBI is pursuing.

The FBI led a coordinated takedown across 11 states to arrest over 30 individuals today in this case, which is very much ongoing.

Billups and Jones are being charged for allegedly taking part in illegal high-stakes poker games operated by organized crime, while Rozier was arrested in connection with a sports betting ring involving current and former NBA players trading inside, non-public information largely based on injuries and illnesses. (CBS Sports)

LIVE: Miami Heat’s Rozier, Trail Blazers’ Billups arrested in federal gambling probe, sources say

The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 other people in two criminal cases alleging sprawling separate schemes to rake in millions by rigging sports bets and poker games involving Mafia families, authorities said.

Portland coach Chauncey Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons that were backed by La Cosa Nostra Crime families. Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused in a second scheme to concoct fraudulent bets by exploiting confidential information about NBA athletes and teams.

The indictments unsealed in New York create a massive cloud for the NBA — which opened its season this week — and show how certain types of wagers are vulnerable to massive fraud in the growing, multi-billion-dollar legal sports-betting industry.

“My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended,” said Joseph Nocella, the U.S attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Your luck has run out.” (https://www.ksnblocal4.com)

Also read: NBA Opening Night 2025: Thunder Stun Rockets, Warriors Edge Lakers as New Season Tips Off

Heat’s Rozier and Trail Blazers’ Billups among dozens arrested in federal gambling probe

Rozier is accused in participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information, officials said. Billups is charged in a separate but related case of illegal poker games.

Portland coach Chauncey Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons that were backed by La Cosa Nostra Crime families. Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused in a second scheme to concoct fraudulent bets by exploiting confidential information about NBA athletes and teams.

Both men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges and were expected to make initial court appearances later Thursday. Also arrested was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones, who is charged with participating in both schemes.

Nocella called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”

“The fraud is mind boggling,” FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters. “We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation.”

Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave from their teams, according to the NBA, which said it is cooperating with authorities.

“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said in a statement. (https://www.kplctv.com)

FBI probes sports gambling, arrests Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested early Thursday morning in Orlando as part of an FBI sports betting and gambling probe, according to ESPN and a post on X by NBA insider Shams Charania.

The Eastern District of New York and FBI Director Kash Patel are expected to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. ET to announce arrests tied to the ongoing investigation.

Rozier’s arrest came just hours after the Heat’s season-opening game Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic, a game he did not play in, despite being listed on the active roster.

According to earlier reporting from ESPN and CBS Sports, federal investigators have been examining unusual betting activity linked to a March 2023 game when Rozier played for the Charlotte Hornets, including heavy wagers on his player stats (“under” on points, rebounds and assists). At the time, the NBA said it found no evidence that Rozier violated league rules.

Rozier played four and a half seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, becoming one of the team’s leading scorers and averaging more than 19 points per game before being traded to the Miami Heat in early 2024. (CBS News)

Pistons’ Malik Beasley subject of federal gambling probe

Earlier this year, it was announced that Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was under federal investigation for activity related to unusual betting patterns surrounding him in a March 2023 game when he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier has not been charged with any crime, nor has he faced any sanction from the NBA. (ESPN.com)

Malik Beasley lawyer: Ex-Bucks guard did not help feds in gambling case

Ex-Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley’s lawyer says Beasley did not cooperate with federal investigators probing a gambling ring.

“Malik did not in any way assist the government in that investigation,” the lawyer said. (Yahoo Sports)

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