Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups Charged in $5M Gambling Fraud Scheme

On October 23, 2025, a federal grand jury in Brooklyn unsealed a seven‑count indictment that placed Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, among 31 alleged conspirators in a sprawling gambling fraud operation.

Background and Investigation Timeline

The case traces its roots to a routine FBI cyber‑crimes sweep in March 2024. Agents flagged an odd spike in betting volume on a December 15, 2023, Blazers‑Thunder game. Further analysis linked the surge to a cluster of offshore betting sites registered in Costa Rica and Curacao.

By summer 2024, the task force had traced encrypted messages between an Oregon‑based informant and a Miami‑area bettor. Those leads converged on Billups, who, according to the indictment, passed inside information about player injuries and lineup changes to Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat. Rozier allegedly used that data to place wagers that netted roughly $1.2 million.

Simultaneously, investigators uncovered a separate underground poker ring operating in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan since early 2022. The ring, allegedly backed by members of the Gambino and Lucchese families, rigged games to siphon about $3.8 million from unsuspecting players.

Details of the Gambling and Poker Schemes

The indictment outlines two intertwined conspiracies. The first involved Billups providing "non‑public information" about a 2023 Blazers matchup. That intel—ranging from player fatigue to coaching adjustments—was transmitted via encrypted channels to Rozier, who then placed bets through three offshore platforms.

The second conspiracy centered on a network of high‑stakes poker tables hidden in basements and backrooms. Organized‑crime affiliates allegedly manipulated card deals and used signal devices to ensure a predetermined outcome. Prosecutors say the scheme ran from January 2022 through October 2025, defrauding participants of $3.8 million.

Financial investigators followed a trail of cryptocurrency wallets that moved the illicit proceeds. Roughly $1.2 million in betting profits and a portion of the poker takings were layered through Bitcoin and Ethereum exchanges before being funneled into shell corporations.

Responses from the NBA and Teams

Within minutes of the indictment’s release, NBA Communications issued a statement: "We are reviewing the federal indictments announced today. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority."

The Portland Trail Blazers confirmed that Billups had been placed on immediate leave and that they would cooperate fully with authorities. Assistant coach Tiago Splitter, a former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, was named interim head coach on the same afternoon.

The Miami Heat announced that Rozier had been placed on the league’s suspended list pending the outcome of the criminal case. Both organizations emphasized that no on‑court games have been affected and that internal compliance teams are reviewing betting data from the 2023‑2025 seasons.

Legal Stakes and Potential Penalties

Billups faces wire‑fraud charges that each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years, plus money‑laundering counts that could add another 10 years per count. If convicted on all counts, he could be looking at a sentence exceeding 50 years.

Rozier is charged with wire fraud and interstate transmission of wagering information, offenses that carry up to 20 years each. The indictment also names dozens of alleged accomplices, including members of the Gambino and Lucchese crime families, who could face similar penalties.

U.S. Attorney Breon S. Peace announced that arraignments for all defendants are set for October 30, 2025, at Brooklyn Federal Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, before Judge William F. Kuntz II.

Wider Implications for Sports Integrity

This scandal marks the most serious gambling‑related controversy in the NBA since the Tim Donaghy case in 2007. Back then, the league introduced a comprehensive Gambling Integrity Program. In response to the current indictment, the NBA has re‑activated that program and vowed to audit every game from the 2024‑2025 season for irregular betting patterns.

Experts warn that the use of cryptocurrency and offshore platforms makes detection harder than ever. "The technology used this time is far more sophisticated than anything we saw a decade ago," said Dr. Maya Patel, a professor of sports law at Columbia University. "If the league doesn’t adapt its monitoring tools, we could see more covert schemes surface.

For fans, the fallout could reshape how teams handle internal information. Several franchises are reportedly tightening access to medical and strategic data, limiting who can discuss player conditions outside of official channels.