PORTLAND, OR – Portland Trail Blazers head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups was arrested Thursday on federal charges related to an alleged years-long illegal poker operation with ties to organized crime.
The Denver native faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy stemming from a sophisticated cheating scheme that defrauded victims of at least $7.15 million, according to a 22-page federal indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
The alleged scheme operated from at least 2019 across multiple cities including New York, Las Vegas, and Miami. Prosecutors allege a coordinated “cheating team” used advanced technology to manipulate high-stakes poker games.
According to court documents, the operation employed wireless card readers, rigged shuffling machines, electronic poker chip trays with hidden card sensors, specialized contact lenses, and marked playing cards to gain unfair advantages over unsuspecting players.
Billups allegedly served as a “face card” in the operation—a well-known athlete used to attract wealthy victims to the games. In exchange for his participation, he received portions of the criminal proceeds, prosecutors said.
The indictment references a specific April 2019 poker game in Las Vegas where Billups and co-conspirators allegedly defrauded participants of at least $50,000 using rigged equipment.
FBI officials stated the illegal games operated “with the express permission and approval of” La Cosa Nostra members. Organized crime figures collected gambling debts using “threats of force and violence” and received a portion of the illegal proceeds.
FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia commented on the scope of the alleged operation: “This alleged scheme wreaked havoc across the nation, exploiting the notoriety of some” to finance Italian crime families.
Billups, 49, enjoyed a distinguished NBA career as a five-time All-Star who led the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship. A University of Colorado graduate, Billups attended George Washington High School in Denver and won the NBA sportsmanship award in 2009 while playing for the Nuggets.
The arrest marks a stunning fall for the former NBA Finals MVP, who transitioned to coaching after his playing career ended.
Federal prosecutors continue to investigate the full extent of the alleged poker scheme and whether additional participants will face charges.
