Federal authorities have arrested 31 people, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, in a sweeping investigation linking organized crime to illegal gambling and sports rigging. Officials described it as one of the most extensive corruption cases involving professional sports and the mafia in recent years.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests on Thursday, calling the case “the insider trading saga for the NBA.” He explained that investigators uncovered two connected schemes — one involving illegal betting on NBA games and another centered on underground poker games rigged with high-tech cheating equipment. “The fraud is mind-boggling,” Patel emphasized. “We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation.”
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said the defendants included members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families. He detailed how the groups laundered their proceeds through shell companies, cryptocurrency transfers, and cash exchanges. Some suspects also resorted to violence, including a gunpoint robbery to obtain a rigged shuffling machine.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the indictment “extraordinarily rare,” noting it involved four of New York’s five mafia families. “It reflects how deep and how far this investigation reached,” she said.
Authorities alleged Rozier shared insider information about his playing status during a March 2023 game, leading to more than $200,000 in wagers. His attorney, Jim Trusty, rejected the claims, asserting that Rozier “is not a gambler” and was previously cleared by the NBA.
The investigation spanned 11 states and uncovered what officials described as a sophisticated network connecting organized crime to professional sports. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the case “a stunning development” that should “shake NBA fans.”
