NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups Pleads Not Guilty in M...

By Gabe Whisnant

Breaking News Editor

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Portland Trail Blazers coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges accusing him of profiting from rigged poker games tied to several Mafia figures and at least one other former NBA player.

Billups, a five-time All-Star who won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons, appeared in federal court in New York City to face money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Several of his co-defendants are also charged with operating an illegal gambling business and engaging in an extortion conspiracy.

His attorney, Chris Heywood, has strongly denied the allegations. Heywood has previously called Billups a “man of integrity” and said the government’s claims defy logic.

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“To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom,” Heywood said after Billups’ initial appearance in Portland, Oregon, on Oct. 23, when prosecutors first announced the indictment. “He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game.”

Billups, 49, wore a dark gray suit during Monday’s brief arraignment and spoke only to answer the judge’s yes-or-no questions. He has remained free on bond since his October court appearance.

The Trail Blazers coach is the most prominent figure among more than 30 defendants charged last month in what prosecutors described as a sweeping federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports. Other defendants were also expected in the Brooklyn courtroom Monday as prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge discussed procedural steps and scheduling.

According to prosecutors, Billups participated in a scheme to manipulate Mafia-backed poker games held in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year.

Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also charged in the alleged poker scheme. Prosecutors say the operation used an array of sophisticated technology to rig hands, including altered card-shuffling machines, hidden chip-tray cameras, special sunglasses and poker tables equipped with X-ray devices capable of reading cards.

Jones and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were also charged in a separate scheme that allegedly involved exploiting insider information about players to place profitable bets on NBA games.

Prosecutors say the poker operation defrauded victims of roughly $7 million beginning in at least 2019. Billups allegedly served as a high-profile “face card” to lure wealthy, unsuspecting players. In one instance, organizers exchanged messages saying a victim appeared eager to lose money to Billups because he was “star struck.”

Investigators say Billups, who earned an estimated $106 million during his playing career, received a portion of the proceeds. After one allegedly rigged game in October 2020, prosecutors say $50,000 was wired directly to him.

The scheme’s operators also paid a share of their profits to the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno crime families for permission to run poker events within their territories, prosecutors said. Mafia members allegedly carried out assaults, extortion and robbery to enforce debts and protect the operation.

Billups was the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and played 17 seasons with seven teams. Known in Detroit as “Mr. Big Shot” for his clutch shooting, he was the 2004 NBA Finals MVP and had his No. 1 jersey retired by the Pistons.

After retiring in 2014, he moved into broadcasting before joining the coaching ranks. The Trail Blazers hired him in 2021 and extended his contract earlier this year. After his arrest, the team placed him on unpaid leave and named assistant coach Tiago Splitter interim coach.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.

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