Chauncey Billups Pleads Not Guilty in Illegal Gambling Case
The Portland Trail Blazers coach and Basketball Hall of Famer, Chauncey Billups, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of obtaining benefits from rigged poker games, in which mafia figures and at least one other former NBA player were involved. The five-time All-Star, who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, was processed in a federal court in New York City on charges of conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, both with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Some of Billups’ co-defendants are also accused of running an illegal gambling business and participating in an extortion conspiracy.Billups, who attended the brief arraignment in a dark gray suit, only answered the judge’s questions. He has been out on bail since his initial court appearance in Oregon. Billups was possibly the most prominent name among the more than 30 defendants in last month’s extensive federal raid against illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports. The other defendants were also expected to appear in Brooklyn court for Monday’s proceedings, in which the judge, prosecutors, and defense attorneys will likely discuss the next steps in the case. According to prosecutors, the 49-year-old Denver native, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last year, was involved in a scheme to rig illegal poker games backed by the mafia in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami, and the Hamptons. Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also involved in that alleged scheme, which, according to prosecutors, used a series of sophisticated technology that allowed for the rigging of bets, such as altered card shuffling machines, hidden cameras in poker chip trays, special sunglasses, and even X-ray equipment integrated into the table to read the cards. Jones was also charged along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier in a separate scheme that allowed players to exploit insider information about players to win bets on NBA games. Prosecutors allege that the poker scheme Billups was involved in defrauded victims of an estimated $7 million starting from at least 2019. They say he acted like a “famous face” who could attract wealthy and unsuspecting players to the games. Prosecutors said that during a game, the organizers of the scheme exchanged messages saying that one of the victims “acted as if he wanted Chauncey to have his money” because he was “dazzled”. Prosecutors say Billups, who earned around $106 million during his playing days, received a share of the ill-gotten gains. For example, after a rigged game in October 2020, they say $50,000 was transferred directly to him. The organizers of the scheme also had to share a portion of their profits with the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno crime families for operating within the illegal poker games run by New York crime enterprises, prosecutors said. In turn, mafia members helped commit violent acts, including assaults, extortion, and robberies, to secure debt payments and the continued success of the operation, they said. Billups was selected as the third overall pick in the 1997 draft by the Boston Celtics after excelling in college for the Colorado Buffaloes. He played 17 years in the NBA, with seasons on the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers. But perhaps he is more beloved in Motor City, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” for his ability to make crucial shots. Billups was named Finals MVP during the Pistons’ title run in 2004 and his number 1 jersey was retired by the team. After retiring in 2014, Billups embarked on a career as a television analyst before moving on to coaching. He was hired as Portland’s coach in 2021 and signed a multi-year extension with the Trail Blazers earlier this year after the team failed to reach the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season in 2024. Billups previously served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers. After his arrest, he was placed on unpaid leave and the Trail Blazers named assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter as interim coach.To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government accuses him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He wouldn’t jeopardize those things for anything, much less for a card game.
Chris Heywood, Billups’ lawyer
