NBA’s Chauncey Billups pleads not responsible in rigged poker video games case : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5002x3335+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2Fbf%2F4ffc258148e3af290555f551d7ca%2Fap25328505510250.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5002x3335+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2Fbf%2F4ffc258148e3af290555f551d7ca%2Fap25328505510250.jpg" class="img" alt="Portland Trail Blazers' head coach Chauncey Billups arrives at Brooklyn federal court on Monday in New York." fetchpriority="high"/> Portland Path Blazers' head coach Chauncey Billups arrives at Brooklyn federal court docket on Monday in New York. Yuki Iwamura/AP disguise caption

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Yuki Iwamura/AP NEW YORK — Portland Path Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, a member of the Basketball Corridor of Fame, pleaded not responsible Monday to costs he profited from rigged poker video games involving a number of Mafia figures and not less than one different ex-NBA participant.

Billups, a five-time All Star who gained a championship with the Detroit Pistons, was arraigned in a federal court docket in Brooklyn on cash laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy costs, every carrying a most sentence of 20 years in jail.

Prosecutors say he was involving a scheme to rig mob-backed unlawful poker video games in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons. Others face costs of working an unlawful playing enterprise, theft conspiracy and extortion conspiracy. Prosecutors stated Monday that plea negotiations have begun with some defendants however didn't establish them.

U.S. District Courtroom Choose Ramon Reyes stated he hopes to convey the sprawling case to trial by subsequent September, telling legal professionals to "do what you must do."

Billups, wearing a darkish gray swimsuit, spoke solely to reply yes-or-no questions from the decide. His lawyer, Marc Mukasey, entered his plea. They declined to remark after the listening to. Final month, one other Billups lawyer known as him a "man of integrity" who denies the allegations.

"To consider that Chauncey Billups did what the federal authorities is accusing him of is to consider that he would threat his Corridor of Fame legacy, his repute and his freedom," lawyer Chris Heywood stated after Billups first appeared in court docket on Oct. 23, when prosecutors first introduced the indictment.

Billups, 49, was launched on a $5 million bond secured by his household's Colorado residence. He should chorus from playing, keep away from contact with different defendants or alleged victims, give up his passport and restrict journey to seven states, together with Oregon and New York, and Washington, D.C.

Inducted final yr into the Naismith Memorial Corridor of Fame, Billups was arguably essentially the most outstanding amongst greater than 30 folks charged in final month's sprawling federal takedown of unlawful playing operations linked to skilled sports activities. Additionally charged are ex-NBA participant and assistant coach Damon Jones and Miami Warmth guard Terry Rozier, who prosecutors say schemed with others to let gamblers exploit insider details about gamers to win NBA bets.

Along with Monday's arraignment, Billups and his co-defendants attended a standing convention and are due again in court docket March 4.

Prosecutors say the poker-rigging scheme used altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras in chip trays, particular sun shades and X-ray tools constructed into the desk to learn playing cards. They allege the operation defrauded victims of an estimated $7 million beginning in not less than 2019.

Billups allegedly served as a star "face card" that would draw rich, unsuspecting gamers to the video games. Prosecutors stated organizers texted throughout one sport {that a} sufferer "acted like he needed Chauncey to have his cash" as a result of he was "star struck."

Prosecutors say Billups acquired a portion of the ill-gotten features. together with a $50,000 wire switch after a rigged sport in October 2020.

Organizers additionally needed to share their proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno mob households for working throughout the unlawful poker video games run by the New York prison enterprises, prosecutors stated. In return, Mafia members allegedly carried out assault, extortion and theft to gather money owed and shield the operation.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1755x1170+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F48%2Fe8%2Fbe041dce4c3babf1855255d58b6d%2Fap25300556137850.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1755x1170+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F48%2Fe8%2Fbe041dce4c3babf1855255d58b6d%2Fap25300556137850.jpg" class="img" alt="Detroit Pistons Chauncey Billups (1) goes to the basket between Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (8) and Gary Payton (20) in the first half of Game 3 of the NBA finals at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., June 10, 2004." loading="lazy"/> Detroit Pistons Chauncey Billups (1) goes to the basket between Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (8) and Gary Payton (20) within the first half of Recreation 3 of the NBA finals on the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., June 10, 2004. Michael Conroy/AP disguise caption

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Michael Conroy/AP Throughout his NBA profession, Billups earned about $106 million. After retiring in 2014, he launched into a profession as a TV analyst earlier than pivoting to teaching.

Billups was chosen because the third general choose within the 1997 draft by the Boston Celtics after starring in school for the Colorado Buffaloes. He performed 17 years within the NBA, with stints with the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.

However he's maybe most beloved within the Motor Metropolis, the place he earned the nickname "Mr. Huge Shot" for his knack of creating clutch photographs.

Billups was named the NBA Finals MVP throughout the Pistons' title run in 2004 and had his No. 1 jersey retired by the staff.

He was employed as Portland's coach in 2021 and signed a multiyear extension with the Path Blazers earlier this yr after the staff missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season in 2024. Billups beforehand served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.

After his arrest, he was positioned on unpaid go away and the Path Blazers named assistant coach and former NBA participant Tiago Splitter as interim coach.

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