The head coach of an National Basketball Association (NBA) team, a basketballer athlete and members of the alleged crime families were part of more than thirty people arrested in an FBI crackdown on illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.
Chauncey Billups, the head coach of Portland Trail Blazers and Terrry Rozier a Miami Heat point guard were part of the 34 people arrested and charged by the FBI on Thursday.
Both NBA members were implicated in seperate but related cases involving rigged pokwe games that were backed by the Mafia.
FBI Director Kash Patel revealed this in a press conference held in New York on Thursday adding that many former professional athletes were involved in the nationwide scheme.
The investigations included alleged illegal and rigged gambling activities in which the perpetrators used special technology including contact lenses to read cards, manipulate shuffles, and communicate with others
In one case, NBA player Terry Rozier is suspected to have feigned an injury during a game, information he is alleged to have passed on before the game started.
New York City police commissioner Jessica Tisch and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella also spoke at the joint press conference revealing details in the case.
The NBA reacting to the arrests in a statement said it was fully cooperating with investigations.
"Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities.
We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.” it said.
The BBC has published a statement from Attorney James Trusty representing NBA star Rozier denying the allegations and saying Rozier will fight the charges.
In the statement, he questioned the motive of the FBI saying that the agency "opted for a photo op."
"It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender they opted for a photo op.
They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case". the statement read.
Some other athletes who were indicted in the FBI investigation include:
Eric Earnest: also known as "Spook"
Marves Fairley: also known as "Vez", "Vezino" and "Vezino Locks"
Shane Hennen: also known as "Sugar"
Damon Jones: alson known as "D Jones" and "Dee Jones"
Deniro Laster: also known as "Niro", "Payso" and "Peso"
Terry Rozier: also known as "Scary Terry" and "Chum"
Nelson Alvarez: also known as "Spanish G"
Ammar Awawdeh: also known as "Flapper Poker" and "Flappy"
Matthew Daddino: also known as "The Wrestler"
The National Basketball Players Association representing current professional basketball players has reacted to news of the indictments calling for "due process".
“The integrity of the game is paramount to NBA players, but so is the presumption of innocence, and both are hindered when player popularity is misused to gain attention," a spokesperson said to the BBC.
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for ...
China has unveiled a redesigned version of its state-backed digital currency, marking the latest step in the country’s long-running effort to modern...
Prime Minister Mark Carney told residents of Tumbler Ridge that “the nation mourns with you” after nine people were killed in shootings at a secon...
The Council of Europe has waived the diplomatic immunity of its former Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, clearing the way for Norwegian prosecutor...
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has resumed negotiations with Washington "with seriousness and open eyes," stressing that progress de...
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for medals across northern Italy. Photographers continue capturing the defining moments of the Games, freezing triumph and celebration in images.
China has unveiled a redesigned version of its state-backed digital currency, marking the latest step in the country’s long-running effort to modernise how money moves through its economy.
The Council of Europe has waived the diplomatic immunity of its former Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, clearing the way for Norwegian prosecutors to pursue an investigation into allegations of aggravated corruption linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has resumed negotiations with Washington "with seriousness and open eyes," stressing that progress depends on genuine commitment from the U.S. Meanwhile, security chief Ali Larijani warned that Israel is seeking to derail the newly resumed talks.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
U.S. military forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said on Monday.
“Peace is not just about signing treaties - it’s about communication, interaction and integration,” Sultan Zahidov, leading adviser at the AIR Center, told AnewZ, suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to the South Caucasus could advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
China has unveiled a redesigned version of its state-backed digital currency, marking the latest step in the country’s long-running effort to modernise how money moves through its economy.
The Council of Europe has waived the diplomatic immunity of its former Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, clearing the way for Norwegian prosecutors to pursue an investigation into allegations of aggravated corruption linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has resumed negotiations with Washington "with seriousness and open eyes," stressing that progress depends on genuine commitment from the U.S. Meanwhile, security chief Ali Larijani warned that Israel is seeking to derail the newly resumed talks.
The Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialom, calling it a “high-stakes preventive diplomatic strike” to secure Israel’s strategic priorities ahead of potential Iran talks.
An 18-year-old gunman killed one person and injured two others before being shot and arrested by police at a school in southern Thailand on Wednesday, according to local media and officials.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment