34 Charged in NBA Betting, Mafia Poker Probe

Federal prosecutors and the FBI announced indictments charging 34 people across 11 states in two multi‑year schemes: an insider NBA sports‑betting conspiracy and a separate Mafia‑backed operation that rigged underground poker games and generated tens of millions of dollars. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is accused of supplying non‑public player information to bettors and, in one instance, telling associates he would leave a game early so they could profit. Portland coach Chauncey Billups is charged in the poker case and is accused of serving as a “face card” to lure victims into games that allegedly used fraudulent shufflers, x‑ray tables, marked cards and other cheating technology. Former player and coach Damon Jones faces charges in both probes. Authorities say members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese crime families took cuts from the operations, used extortion and laundered proceeds. The NBA placed Rozier and Billups on immediate leave; arraignments are pending, prosecutors described the indictments as historic and vowed continued enforcement, and the investigations are ongoing.