Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty in alleged rigged poker case

November 24, 2025

NBA coach Chauncey Billups appeared in Brooklyn federal court alongside approximately 30 co-defendants to plead not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy related to an alleged mafia-connected illegal poker ring. Federal prosecutors claim Billups served as a prominent figure who attracted victims to rigged poker games that used sophisticated cheating equipment including X-ray tables and marked card-reading contact lenses. The judge set Billups' bond at $5 million and imposed travel restrictions, while scheduling a trial to begin around September of next year.

Who is affected

Chauncey Billups (NBA coach of the Portland Trail Blazers)
Approximately 30 other co-defendants in the case
Damon Jones (former NBA player also charged)
Unsuspecting high-roller poker players who were victims of the alleged rigged games
The Portland Trail Blazers organization
The NBA league overall
Billups' wife and daughter (serving as bond signatories)

What action is being taken

Billups is pleading not guilty to the charges
Billups is currently on leave from the Portland Trail Blazers
Billups is free on $5 million bond with travel restrictions
Defense attorneys are representing the large group of defendants in court proceedings
The court is keeping all defendants together as one group for proceedings

Why it matters

This case represents a major scandal that has "rocked" and "thrown into turmoil" US professional basketball, involving allegations of organized crime connections to an illegal gambling operation. The involvement of a Hall of Fame NBA figure and current head coach, along with the sophisticated nature of the alleged cheating scheme, raises serious integrity concerns for the sport. The case also highlights broader gambling-related corruption issues in professional basketball, as it emerged alongside a separate insider trading betting scandal.

What's next

Trial is estimated to start by September of next year (2026)
Next procedural hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2026
Subsequent court appearances will continue to include all defendants together

Read full article from source: BBC