Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier arrested by FBI in gambling probe

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were each arrested by the FBI in separate gambling probes on Thursday morning, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. The arrests were made hours after each made their season debut on the first night of NBA action, with Billups’ Trail Blazers losing to Minnesota, and Rozier’s Heat losing the Magic. Rozier was a healthy scratch in the game.

Billups’ arrest is related to illegal poker games tied to the mafia, according to ABC News. Assistant coach Tiago Splitter will take over for Billups as Portland’s new interim head coach. Rozier is accused of being part of a gambling ring that used “inside information” to make illegal wagers, according to ABC.

Rozier and Billups are just two of the names arrested in a wide-ranging probe called “Operation Royal Flush” that started four years ago. The two indictments have 34 defendants listed. FBI director Kash Patel held a press conference later in the day that confirmed more information.

The indictment alleges that Rozier told associates he was going to take himself out of a game during the first quarter on March 23, 2023 against the New Orleans Pelicans so others could bet on his “under” prop bets. This information was sold to others so they could also profit. There was $259K was waged on Rozier by a group of people with inside information according to the indictment. Rozier played under 10 minutes in the game.

Billups took part in “rigged” poker games in Manhattan, according to the FBI. How do you rig a poker game? Here are the details, according to the press conference:

Billups is also alleged to have provided insider information on Trail Blazers’ injuries while the team was tanking at the end of the 2023 season. The Blazers coach alleged told members of the gambling ring that certain players wouldn’t be playing before it was publicly available on the injury report. The ring put heavy wagers down against Portland before key players were eventually ruled out. Here’s a screenshot from the indictment.

Former NBA player and ex-Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested. Jones sold inside information on a Los Angeles Lakers game so others could bet on it, according to the indictment. Jones is a close friend of LeBron James, who did not play in the game in question. The Lakers were named in the investigation during the press conference.

Each defendant in the NBA gambling case has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. “The indictment details specific examples where the defendants profited from illegal gambling and betting on various NBA games.”

Here’s another clip from the press conference with more details about the investigation.

Billups’ arrest is not related to any games he’s coached, according to reports.

Rozier’s basketball career was catching strays during the press conference:

Rozier had been the subject of a federal investigation over suspicious gambling activity for a March 2023 game between his former team, the Hornets, and the Pelicans. NBA free agent Malik Beasley reportedly remains a potential target by the FBI even after he was cleared by the NBA after having amounted millions in debt. Here’s the press release from the Department of Justice.

Information is still trickling out. We will update this story as it develops.