FBI Busts Hollywood-Style Poker Ring Linked to NBA Fix

The FBI has dismantled a ring combining Hollywood-style poker scams with fixed NBA games. Over 30 individuals have been arrested, including members of the Italian-American mafia and Portland Trail Blazers coach, Chauncey Billups.

The ring, allegedly connected to the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese families, is accused of extracting millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims in New York, Miami, and Las Vegas. One player reportedly lost $1.8 million, with total losses exceeding $7 million.

The poker games were conducted with sophisticated technical means, such as tables with X-ray surfaces, hidden cameras, and rigged shuffling machines. Former professional athletes were used as "face cards" to attract high-net-worth players.

Chauncey Billups has been placed on leave by the NBA, while former NBA player Damon Jones is charged with fraud and money laundering conspiracies. Authorities emphasize that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.