NBA Betting BOMBSHELL: 30+ Arrested in Mafia-Backed Rigging Scandal

On Thursday, October 23, the FBI arrested over 30 individuals due to a rigged NBA gambling scandal. 

Notable names arrested include current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Current Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones. 

The reason for the arrest was due to an investigation into rigged NBA games and poker games backed by the mafia. FBI director Kash Patel said. Law enforcement officials said the multiple charges involve four Mafia families and organized crime networks, with Patel saying of the money involved that “the fraud is mind-boggling.” (Reported by ESPN David Purdum) 

Rozier is accused of participating in rigged games. Rozier is accused of taking himself out of the game, allowing his underplay props to hit for bettors. Incidents of this have occurred on multiple occasions between March 2023 and March 2024.  Rozier was arrested in his hotel in Florida. In the indictment, 3 of the 7 games he left on purpose. Allowing for the benefit of gamblers.              

Billups was arrested on a separate indictment. He was accused of rigging poker games backed by the mafia in New York, costing New Yorkers millions. They used X-ray machines to rig poker games. He was arrested in Oregon. He was not in the indictment for sports betting, but numerous sources claim he was involved in telling betters that Trail Blazers players would not play, allowing for gamblers to bet there under props and win big!

On December 8, Rozier pleaded not guilty in court. And was placed on a 3 million dollar bond. 

Rozier and Billups are facing wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy charges and could face up to 20 years behind bars. 

The next procedural hearing for all of the defendants is set for March 4, 2026.