NEW YORK — Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, a Basketball Hall of Famer, pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges that he profited from rigged poker games tied to organized crime and at least one other former NBA player.
Billups, a five-time All-Star and 2004 NBA Finals MVP, was arraigned in Brooklyn on counts of money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, each carrying a maximum 20-year sentence. Prosecutors allege he was involved in a scheme to fix mob-backed illegal poker games in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons. More than 30 people were charged in last month’s sweep; others face counts including running an illegal gambling business, robbery conspiracy and extortion conspiracy. Prosecutors said plea talks have begun with some defendants but did not identify them.
U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes said he hopes to bring the case to trial by next September and told lawyers to “do what you have to do.” Billups, 49, dressed in a dark gray suit, spoke only to answer yes-or-no questions; his lawyer Marc Mukasey entered the plea. After his initial appearance on Oct. 23, another attorney described Billups as a “man of integrity” who denies the allegations.
Billups was released on a $5 million bond secured by his family’s Colorado home. Conditions include no gambling, no contact with other defendants or alleged victims, surrendering his passport and limiting travel to seven states including Oregon and New York, plus Washington, D.C. Billups and co-defendants attended a status conference Monday and are due back in court March 4.
Prosecutors say the poker operation used altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras in chip trays, special sunglasses and X-ray equipment built into tables to read cards, and that the scheme defrauded victims of roughly $7 million beginning at least in 2019. They allege organizers paid a share of proceeds to the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno crime families for operating in New York, and that Mafia members enforced debts through assault, extortion and robbery.
According to prosecutors, Billups acted as a celebrity “face card” to attract wealthy, unsuspecting players. Texts in investigators’ filings reportedly showed a victim “acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money” because he was “star struck.” Prosecutors say Billups received a portion of the gains, including a $50,000 wire transfer after a rigged game in October 2020.
Billups earned about $106 million during a 17-year NBA career after being selected third overall in the 1997 draft. He played for the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and Detroit Pistons, where he became known as “Mr. Big Shot.” He had his No. 1 jersey retired by the Pistons and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame last year.
After retiring in 2014, Billups worked as a TV analyst and later moved into coaching. He was hired as Portland’s head coach in 2021 and signed a multiyear extension earlier this year. Following his arrest, the Trail Blazers placed him on unpaid leave and named assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter as interim coach.
Also charged in the broader investigation are former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier; prosecutors allege some defendants allowed gamblers to use insider information about players to win NBA bets.
