Latest on Chauncey Billups Investigation
chauncey-billups-unpaid-leave-poker-case
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been placed on unpaid leave by the NBA after his arrest in a federal probe of an alleged mafia-backed illegal poker ring.
Billups, 49, was arraigned last week in federal court on one count of wire-fraud conspiracy and one count of money-laundering conspiracy. His next appearance is set for November 24 in Brooklyn, New York. He has retained high-profile defense attorney Marc Mukasey, a former New York federal prosecutor known for representing former U.S. president Donald Trump. Mukasey is the son of former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
Assistant coach and former NBA center Tiago Splitter is serving as Portland’s interim head coach while the legal case proceeds.
Links to separate betting case
Although Billups was neither charged nor named in a connected illegal sports-betting case that led to guard Terry Rozier being charged, investigators say he matches the description of “Co-Conspirator 8.” Court documents allege that this person warned admitted gambler Eric “Spook” Earnest that the Blazers would “tank” a game on March 24, 2023. Earnest, 53, who has prior felony convictions, is among three individuals indicted in both the poker and betting cases.
Reaction around the league
ESPN reports widespread surprise over Billups’s indictment. Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, who coached Billups with the Detroit Pistons, said he has texted the former All-Star guard nearly every day. “He would be one of the last people I would think about involving himself with bad people,” Brown told ESPN.
An unnamed associate described as close to Billups told ESPN they were unaware the coach gambled and expressed concern about his safety. “If this is true, if he set people up … it could get nasty,” the person said.
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, whom Billups calls his best friend, said he has spoken with Billups since the indictment. “He’s confident in what’s going on,” Lue said, adding that Billups’s main worry is the impact on his family.
Source: Hoops Rumors
