On Thursday, a major FBI investigation into illegal sports betting and gambling operations linked to the NBA and illegal poker schemes led to the arrests of 34 individuals, including prominent figures from the basketball world and organized crime. Among those taken into custody were Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA guard and coach Damon Jones. The sweeping crackdown was part of a larger federal probe targeting members of the infamous La Cosa Nostra crime families, who allegedly orchestrated sophisticated gambling frauds that funneled illicit profits into organized crime networks.
The FBI’s operation, dubbed “Operation Zhen Diagram,” uncovered a nationwide gambling ring that not only involved illegal sports betting on NBA games but also included cheating at high-stakes poker games. The investigation revealed that the proceeds from these illicit activities were laundered through various means, including the conversion of funds into cryptocurrency to evade law enforcement detection. The FBI reported that a confidential source recorded over 3,000 communications—including phone calls and meetings—with those under investigation. This source also facilitated undercover agents’ interactions with the targets and even participated in rigged poker games utilizing cheating devices, such as tampered shuffling machines.
FBI Director Kash Patel spoke exclusively to Fox News Digital about the significance of the operation. He emphasized that the agency’s relentless pursuit of financial trails led to these arrests across 11 states and underscored the involvement of NBA players and coaches who exploited their positions to manipulate gambling systems for personal gain. “This ends today,” Patel said, vowing that the FBI’s efforts to enforce gambling laws and dismantle illegal operations will continue unabated.
The arrests came as part of a broader crackdown that also overlapped with “Operation Nothing But Bet,” a separate investigation targeting fixed NCAA basketball games, some of which involved current and former NBA players. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella highlighted the scope of the schemes, which included the illegal acquisition of non-public information about players’ availability for games, such as when athletes would sit out or exit early due to injuries or illnesses. This insider knowledge was used to place fraudulent bets, often in the form of prop bets focused on individual player performance.
One notable aspect in the investigation was the case of former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who received a lifetime NBA ban and pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit wire fraud connected to a gambling scheme. According to Nocella, Porter was pressured by defendants due to his preexisting gambling debts, illustrating the coercive tactics employed by the ring to obtain sensitive information. The defendants then used a network of straw bettors to place large bets, maximizing their illicit profits. Many of these bets succeeded, resulting in millions of dollars in illegal winnings that were subsequently laundered through complex channels.
In the NBA-related arrests, Terry Rozier’s involvement was tied specifically to illegal sports betting. Rozier was notably absent from the Miami Heat’s game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, following his arrest. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Rozier had faked an injury to exit a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, an example of how players manipulated game situations to aid the gambling operations.
Chauncey Billups, on the other hand, was arrested in relation to the illegal poker scheme. Billups, a Hall of Famer and 17-year NBA veteran who won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons and was a five-time All-Star, was described by prosecutors as a “face card” in the poker ring. Along with Damon Jones, Billups was portrayed as one of the former professional athletes used to lure unsuspecting victims—referred to as “fish”—into rigged poker games. These victims were unaware that the “face cards” were complicit in the scam, which involved cheating devices and collusion to defraud the players at the tables.
All those arrested face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with officials confirming that many individuals had roles in both the sports betting and poker schemes. The investigations remain ongoing, and the NBA has cooperated fully with federal authorities throughout the process.
Following Rozier’s arrest, his legal team issued a statement through attorney James Trusty of Ifrah Law PLLC, who said they had been in communication with prosecutors for over a year. Trusty criticized the FBI’s decision to arrest Rozier