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

The arraignment occurred throughout a listening to for all 31 defendants within the case. Prosecutors say they orchestrated an elaborate scheme utilizing professional athletes’ star energy to lure victims to card video games then cheat them utilizing high-tech tools.

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Billups’ lawyer Marc Mukasey entered the plea on his behalf earlier than U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes.

Billups is charged with fraud and cash laundering conspiracy. He has denied wrongdoing by his attorneys.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones was additionally charged within the case, together with alleged members of New York’s La Cosa Nostra organized crime households. They have all pleaded not responsible.

The costs in opposition to Billups have been unveiled in October alongside a associated case charging Jones and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier with utilizing insider information to rig bets on NBA video games between 2022 and 2024. Jones and Rozier have pleaded not responsible.

In the poker case, prosecutors say Billups and different professional athletes enticed victims into video games in opposition to cheaters who used X-ray card tables and altered shuffling machines to be taught the playing cards in victims’ arms.

The alleged scheme dates to 2019 and defrauded victims of no less than $7 million, in keeping with prosecutors, who say members of the conspiracy used violence and extortion to gather on money owed incurred by victims.

Billups, 49, is in his fifth yr as Portland’s head coach however is at present suspended. He performed for seven groups throughout his NBA profession and gained a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

They have pleaded not responsible and denied wrongdoing by their attorneys.

(This story has been refiled so as to add a dropped letter to the decide’s identify ‘Ramon Reyes’ in paragraph 3)

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