Federal Probes Lead to Arrests of NBA's Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups in Mafia-Backed Gambling Rings

NBA guard Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups were among more than 30 individuals arrested Thursday by federal law enforcement in connection with extensive investigations into a mafia-backed gambling ring. The probes uncovered two large-scale criminal enterprises involving professional athletes, organized crime families, and millions of dollars in fraudulent winnings, according to fbi Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier stands accused of participating in an insider sports betting scheme, exploiting confidential information about NBA athletes and teams. Prosecutors allege he manipulated prop bets by providing advance knowledge, including faking an injury during a game in March 2023 to ensure specific wagers paid out, as reported by CBS News on October 23, 2025.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, a Hall of Famer, was arrested in connection with a separate but related operation involving rigged high-stakes poker games. These games, allegedly backed by mafia families, used sophisticated cheating technology to swindle unsuspecting players out of millions of dollars, according to Al Jazeera on October 23, 2025.

The NBA swiftly responded to the arrests, announcing that both Billups and Rozier have been placed on immediate leave from their respective teams. The league stated its commitment to cooperating fully with federal authorities, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations and its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the game.

Federal prosecutors unsealed two indictments, revealing a years-long investigation that spanned 11 states and involved tens of millions of dollars in illicit gains. The charges include wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling, as detailed by FBI Director Kash Patel at a press conference in New York.

The sweeping federal operation, which also implicated former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones, targeted criminal enterprises allegedly linked to the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families. These organizations reportedly used the illegal gambling proceeds to fund other illicit activities, according to the FBI.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. described the sports betting conspiracy as "one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States." The arrests underscore the ongoing challenges posed by illegal gambling in professional sports.

• The federal investigation comprised two distinct but interconnected probes: "Operation Nothing but Bet," focusing on the insider sports betting ring involving Rozier, and "Operation Royal Flush," targeting the rigged poker games linked to Billups. The poker operation allegedly utilized high-tech cheating devices such as custom shuffling machines, barcoded decks, and hidden cameras built into tables and light fixtures to defraud victims of over $7 million, according to rnz News on October 23, 2025.
• Terry Rozier's alleged involvement centered on a specific incident on March 23, 2023, while he played for the Charlotte Hornets. Prosecutors claim he informed co-conspirators of his plan to leave a game early due to a supposed injury. This insider information allowed the group to place over $200,000 in wagers on his under-performance, generating significant profits, as reported by CBS News. The NBA had previously investigated this incident in 2023 but found no rules broken at the time.
• Chauncey Billups, a respected figure in the NBA, is accused of acting as a "face card" in the rigged poker games, using his celebrity status to lure unsuspecting players, or "fish," into the illicit contests. These games, which allegedly swindled victims out of more than $7.1 million over six years, were orchestrated by organized crime figures, according to Courthouse News on October 23, 2025.
• Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also a key figure in the indictments, charged in connection with both the insider sports betting and the rigged poker schemes. Jones is accused of leveraging his deep connections within the NBA to acquire and disseminate confidential information for betting purposes, further highlighting the pervasive nature of the alleged corruption.
• The involvement of prominent organized crime families, including the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese, underscores the serious nature of the charges. These crime syndicates allegedly backed the gambling operations and laundered the illicit proceeds through shell companies and third parties, demonstrating a sophisticated criminal network, as stated by Al Jazeera on October 23, 2025.
• The NBA has a history of vigilance against gambling violations, with this case drawing parallels to the lifetime ban issued to Jontay Porter in April 2024 for similar offenses. The league's swift action in placing Rozier and Billups on leave reinforces its commitment to protecting the integrity of the sport, according to wruf on October 23, 2025.
• The arrests occurred across 11 states, with Billups apprehended in Portland and Rozier in Orlando. The defendants face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling. They are expected to be arraigned in the districts where they were arrested, marking the beginning of a complex legal process, as reported by Courthouse News.
• This federal crackdown highlights the FBI's ongoing concern with illegal sports betting and game manipulation, especially in the wake of widespread sports betting legalization. FBI Director Kash Patel noted the "mind-boggling" scale of the fraud, involving "tens of millions of dollars," and emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of sporting institutions from criminal exploitation.