Chauncey Billups, the new head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was arrested. Today, he is personally linked to an industry-shaking, high-dollar, international poker scheme that has tied up professional sports stars, celebrities, and billionaire gamblers. The program started in 2019. It included high-stakes Texas Hold ‘Em games, where players were duped with advanced wireless technology. U.S. prosecutors have described this operation as “reminiscent of a Hollywood movie.” Because of that negligence, criminals were able to steal more than $7 million from unsuspecting victims.
The federal investigation of this scheme resulted in over 30 arrests, including former NBA player Damon Jones. Members of the infamous La Cosa Nostra crime families – Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese – have been indicted for masterminding the ruse. These families, we contend, weren’t by any means incidental actors in the scheme. Billups, as an important figure in this administration, has faced accusations of being a “face card” in these rigged games. This position allowed him to influence results and con players.
State law allows the NBA to suspend Billups immediately without pay pending a criminal trial, thus possible conviction. Svoboda’s scheme’s widespread effect has shocked the sports world, as well as law enforcement officials. FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia commented on the situation, stating that the scheme “wreaked havoc across the nation, exploiting the notoriety of some and the wallets of others to finance the Italian crime families.”
The specifics of the scheme paint a disturbing picture. Thousands of victims lost sizeable sums of money, with at least one victim losing a total of at least $1.8 million. Each game shortchanged victims tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. The complex fraud had a devastating impact on the financial health of its victims. It ignited controversy regarding the fairness of the entire professional sports betting.
The ensuing investigation uncovered disturbing misconduct involving the rampant faking of injuries by NBA players. This entry had the intent to shift betting odds, further complicating an already convoluted web. This unusual intersection of sports and crime has received a wave of media attention as state and federal officials seek to take down this complex operation.
It’s the feds’ most extensive attempt to root out corruption in not only the gambling industry, but in professional sports. Law enforcement agencies are eager to highlight their efforts at making sure both are equitable.
“This supposed scheme caused serious damage all over the country. It used the fame of a few and robbed the pocketbooks of many to fund Italian mafia families,” said special agent in charge Christopher Raia, underscoring the national reach of Operation Choke Point.
As the investigation continues, look for further information to come about how these games went down. Plus, how deeply engaged some big names in the sports world have been may come to light. The implications for everyone caught up in this scandal are massive, with legal threats now hanging over both active players and members of organized crime.