Former NBA Guard Damon Jones Pleads Guilty in Federal Gambling Probe
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NEW YORK — Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, admitted Tuesday to participating in sports betting and rigged poker schemes that prosecutors say defrauded sportsbooks and gamblers out of millions of dollars.
Jones, 49, pleaded guilty in back-to-back hearings before two federal judges in Brooklyn, becoming the first of more than 30 defendants to do so after last year’s sweeping arrests of alleged mob associates and basketball figures.
Sports betting conspiracy
Before Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall, Jones acknowledged conspiring to commit wire fraud from December 2022 to March 2024 by providing nonpublic injury information about NBA stars to bettors. He told the court he used inside knowledge gained “as a former player,” violating league rules and the terms of online sportsbooks.
Sentencing guidelines call for 21 to 27 months in prison on that count. Jones also agreed to forfeit $73,000 tied to the two cases.
Poker scheme admissions
In a separate hearing before Judge Ramon Reyes, Jones said he acted as a paid “face card” at private poker games in Miami and the Hamptons, using his NBA profile to draw wealthy players. He admitted knowing the games were rigged with altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras and other devices.
The poker conspiracy, which prosecutors say cheated more than 10 victims out of over $9.5 million, carries a recommended sentence of 63 to 78 months. Prosecutors agreed to shave 15 months from that range if Jones cooperates, putting his potential penalty at 48 to 63 months.
Next steps
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2027. He declined to speak with reporters as he left court, saying only, “To God be the glory.”
Prosecutors stated Monday they plan to seek additional charges against co-defendant and former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Jones was arrested last October alongside Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, and others.
A Galveston, Texas, native, Jones played 11 NBA seasons from 1999 to 2009, earning more than $20 million with 10 teams. He was a teammate of LeBron James in Cleveland (2005-08) and later served as an informal assistant during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2022-23 campaign.
Source: ESPN
