Nationwide — Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones were arrested in a massive FBI gambling probe that uncovered illegal betting, wire fraud, and money laundering involving organized crime.
Federal officials said the arrests were part of two connected investigations, Operation Zhen Diagram and Operation Nothing But Net, targeting La Cosa Nostra crime families. The FBI said 34 people were arrested across 11 states for manipulating betting systems and funneling profits to criminal networks.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation exposed “multiple NBA players and coaches, who allegedly took advantage of their own positions of power to rig gambling systems for their own benefit,” according to Fox News. He added that the bureau’s work to keep gambling operations within the law “is only beginning.”
Both Billups and Rozier were placed on immediate leave by the NBA. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness,” the league said in a statement. “The integrity of our game remains our top priority.” The Miami Heat referred to the league’s statement, while the Trail Blazers confirmed assistant coach Tiago Splitter will take over temporarily.
According to U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Billups and Jones were involved in rigged poker games designed to scam victims known as “fish,” using their celebrity status as “face cards.” The FBI said agents recorded thousands of calls and meetings, including games that used cheating devices like X-ray tables and rigged shufflers.
Authorities also accused Rozier of faking an injury during a March 2023 game while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, allowing bets to be placed on the outcome. The FBI said players received non-public injury information, which was used to place large, fraudulent prop bets on NBA games.
The investigation revealed that the group laundered its profits through shell accounts and cryptocurrency to avoid detection. Prosecutors said the illegal bets reached into the millions and involved several teams, including the Lakers, Raptors, Hornets, and Trail Blazers.
Rozier’s lawyer, James Trusty, called the arrest unnecessary and claimed his client was “not a gambler” and plans to fight the charges. Billups, a former NBA Finals MVP and All-Star, was arrested after leading Portland in Wednesday’s game against Minnesota. Rozier did not play in the Heat’s matchup against Orlando that same night.