Former NBA player Damon Jones is expected to become the first person to plead guilty in a large-scale gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people. According to multiple reports, Jones will appear before Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo on April 28 for his change-of-plea hearing.
Key Takeaways
Damon Jones, former NBA player and coach, will plead guilty to charges related to illegal gambling schemes involving rigged poker games and insider sports betting tips. A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn federal court.
- Damon Jones expected to become the first person to plead guilty in a large-scale gambling sweep
- Charges include wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy related to rigged poker games and insider sports betting tips
- Jones allegedly shared non-public injury information about NBA stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis
- Poker scheme involved altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras, special sunglasses, and X-ray equipment built into the table
Jones faces charges related to two separate schemes: rigged poker games and providing sports bettors with non-public information about injuries to NBA stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The indictments charge him with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, as reported by PBS News. Jones was initially arrested last October along with Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
The sports betting scheme involved Jones allegedly sharing insider information about James' injury status. According to prosecutors, Jones texted an unnamed co-conspirator on February 9, 2023: "Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out!" This tip came before James was officially ruled out of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to ankle soreness. Additionally, Jones allegedly provided incorrect injury information about Anthony Davis, leading to significant betting losses for sports bettor Marves Fairley.
The poker scheme involved using former NBA players like Jones to lure unwitting participants into rigged games that employed altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras, special sunglasses, and even X-ray equipment built into the table. Prosecutors allege that these illegal gambling operations were connected to New York crime families, including the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonnano families.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.