NBA Star Arrested In FBI Sting
In a sweeping operation that feels more like the plot of a high-stakes crime thriller than reality, the FBI revealed Thursday that over 30 individuals — including NBA players, coaches, and former pros — were arrested in connection with a multi-state gambling and money laundering scheme allegedly tied to the notorious La Cosa Nostra crime syndicate.
Among the most high-profile names arrested were Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player-turned-coach Damon Jones. All three face serious federal charges: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The charges stem from two major federal operations — ominously named Operation Zhen Diagram and Nothing But Net — both targeting deeply embedded criminal activities stretching across 11 states. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, this investigation unearthed a vast network of rigged gambling systems, dirty money trails, and insider manipulation that allegedly enriched one of the world’s most feared criminal organizations.
“Day in and day out, this FBI is following the money — and today is the result,” Patel said, noting that the operation signals only the beginning of a new federal crackdown on illegal gambling networks tied to professional sports.
At the center of the case are rigged poker games using altered shuffling devices and X-ray tables, and the exploitation of non-public NBA injury data to influence prop bets — wagers on specific outcomes like points scored or minutes played. According to prosecutors, victims known as “fish” were drawn into these games under the false impression they were playing alongside beloved former pros — the so-called “face cards” — unaware these athletes were allegedly part of the scam.
Billups and Jones were two such “face cards.” Billups, a respected former Finals MVP, had been the head coach of the Trail Blazers since 2021. His sudden downfall has sent shockwaves across the NBA.
The FBI’s investigation appears to have benefited from an extraordinary degree of access. Over 3,000 recorded calls and meetings, a confidential informant, and even undercover agents embedded in the ring helped unravel the complex scheme. Prosecutors also allege that Terry Rozier faked an injury during a 2023 game between the Hornets and Pelicans to manipulate betting odds — a move that, if proven, could be catastrophic for his career and the league’s image.
Adding to the drama is the case of Jontay Porter, the former Raptor who received a lifetime NBA ban and pleaded guilty last year. Prosecutors claim Porter was threatened due to his gambling debts, and that valuable insider injury information was extracted under duress — information then used to place fraudulent bets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In response, the NBA has placed both Rozier and Billups on immediate leave pending further developments. The Trail Blazers have appointed Tiago Splitter as interim coach, while the Heat referred media inquiries to the league office.
Meanwhile, Rozier’s attorney, James Trusty, issued a fiery statement criticizing the FBI for staging a “photo op” with a 6 a.m. arrest at a hotel, despite what he claims was an open channel of communication. “They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk,” Trusty said.