Report: Chauncey Billups’ alleged role in scandal goes beyond poker

The fact that Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was among a slew of people arrested Thursday in a crackdown on illegal sports gambling and rigged poker games is shocking enough. Billups was arrested in Oregon and is being charged in an indictment alleging his involvement in underground poker games backed by the Mafia.

At first, there were indications that pointed to Billups only being involved in the poker scandal, but a different story may now be unfolding. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said that Billups’ role goes beyond just his involvement in poker matches and that he used his position as an NBA coach to “tell people who may be available” in game action.

Billups has been indicted on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, the exact charges leveled against Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, whose arrest centers around his alleged ties to illegal sports betting. Another NBA figure, former player and coach Damon Jones, was arrested for allegedly being involved in both the poker and sports betting cases.

The expectation is that Billups will make his initial court appearance on Thursday, and prosecutors called on a judge to hand down “substantial bail conditions” on all of the defendants in the poker case. They noted that the Hall of Famer possesses “substantial financial resources.”

The 49-year-old is said to have lured people into poker games that were rigged by the Mafia, and once the unlucky players lost, the Mafia allegedly used violence and extortion to ensure that debts were paid. Over the years, victims have lost millions of dollars, per the indictment.

“Billups, who was known as a ‘face card’ in the scheme, helped to organize and played in games held in Las Vegas using a rigged shuffling machine in April 2019, where they defrauded victims of at least $50,000, according to the indictment,” wrote ESPN’s David Purdum.

“Following another rigged game in October 2020, Billups was wired $50,000 for his participation, the memo states.”

The legal trouble Billups has caught himself up in could have major implications on his future leading the Trail Blazers from the sidelines. He’s been placed on leave by the NBA, and former San Antonio Spurs big man Tiago Splitter will serve as the interim head coach for the time being.

It’s unfortunate that Billups is in the situation he’s in, and if Windhorst’s recent report is any indication, it could get uglier from here. His story will be one to follow in the hours and days to come.