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Former Cleveland Cavalier Damon Jones is expected to plead guilty in a federal court after being charged with giving inside information about National Basketball Association player injuries. He requested a change-of-plea hearing that has been scheduled for April 28. The actual indictment was broader in scope.
31 defendants, including members and associates of organized crime families and the Trailblazers suspended head coach Chauncey Billups were charged in the matter pertaining to the alleged rigged poker games back in October of this past year. The 7-count indictment was handed down by the Justice Department.
As alleged in the indictment, beginning as early as 2019, the defendants engaged in a series of schemes to use wireless cheating technology to rig illegal poker games (most commonly, Texas Hold’em) in the Eastern District of New York and across the United States.
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As alleged in the indictment, the Bonanno, Genovese, and Gambino organized crime families of LCN backed the Lexington Avenue Game and the Washington Place Game and received a portion of the criminal proceeds from both the “straight” illegal poker games and rigged games run by the organizers of those games.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Jones were indicted on the same day as Billups and the alleged co-conspirators with prosecutors claiming the pair, along with four others, used non-public injury and lineup information to play fraudulent wagers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The other four individuals charged in that matter included Eric Earnest, also known as “Spook,” Marves Fairley, also known as “Vez,” “Vezino,” and “Vezino Locks”, Deniro Laster, also known as “Niro,” “Payso,” and “Peso,". Each was charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for their alleged roles in a scheme to use inside information from National Basketball Association (NBA) players and coaches to profit from illegal betting activity.
ESPN obtained documents pertaining to the investigation into possible point shaving in college basketball involving Fairley, a well-known sports handicapper, just days prior to the unsealing of the indictment.
Fairley was alleged by one sportsbook to have been the mastermind behind the syndicate. On his social media accounts, Fairley boasted of being the"#1 Sports Betting Consultant". He marketed himself under brands like Vezino Locks LLC.
Joseph Nocella Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Kash Patel, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges back in October.
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, using private locker room and medical information to enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This was a sophisticated conspiracy involving athletes, coaches, and intermediaries who exploited confidential information for profit. Insider betting schemes erode the integrity of American sports, and this Office will continue in its strong tradition of holding accountable anyone who seeks to corrupt sports through illegal means.”
Eleven other defendants, in addition to Jones, were expected to receive plea deals while another nine were said to be having “productive conversations” about pleading guilty.
Jones’ plans were disclosed Thursday in court documents. He previously plead not guilty.
By entering a guilty plea, Jones would acknowledge he knowingly shared non-public information that could influence betting markets. The move likely reduces his potential sentence and could signal cooperation with investigators as the larger case continues to unfold.
Sentencing is expected at a later date.
- Tony Caliente, Gambling911.com
