NBA Coach, Players Charged In Sprawling Sports Betting And Mafia-Backed Poker Schemes

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Damon Jones are among 34 people charged in connection with schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by Mafia, authorities said on Thursday. FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials are releasing more information at a news conference in New York. Patel said multiple charges involve multiple mafia families and organized crime networks, and “mind-boggling” amounts of fraud. Rozier's lawyer, Jim Trusty, accused the FBI of aiming for “misplaced glory” by embarrassing the professional athlete with a perp walk, rather than allowing him to self-surrender.