Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been charged in a sweeping federal investigation. Prosecutors say they exposed an underground gambling and money-laundering network connected to organized crime.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Zhen Diagram and Operation Nothing But Net. These investigations led to the arrest of 34 people across 11 states. NBA figures Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat and former player Damon Jones. Federal officials allege the group used high-tech cheating methods to rig private poker games.
WHAT BILLUPS IS ACCUSED OF
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Billups acted as a “face card” in high-stakes poker games. He was accused of leveraging his celebrity to attract wealthy players who were then unknowingly defrauded. The scheme allegedly used rigged shuffling machines, marked cards, and even X-ray tables to manipulate outcomes. Victims reportedly lost over $7 million between 2019 and 2024. Billups has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
CONNECTIONS TO ORGANIZED CRIME
The gambling ring was reportedly linked to La Cosa Nostra crime families, including factions of the Gambino and Bonanno organizations. Prosecutors claim the operation spanned from New York to Miami and Las Vegas, using shell companies and offshore accounts.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated the operation exposed “multiple NBA players and coaches. Who allegedly took advantage of their own positions of power to rig gambling systems.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Billups is expected to appear in federal court later this month. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for wire-fraud conspiracy and additional penalties for money laundering.
The case highlights growing concerns about gambling integrity in professional sports, especially as leagues embrace partnerships with betting companies.