Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty in poker conspiracy case

Chauncey Billups, the erstwhile Portland Trail Blazers manager and five-time All-Star, appeared successful national tribunal successful Brooklyn to participate a plea to charges successful a analyzable transgression case. Namely, Billups was accused of conspiring with the mafia to acceptable up amerciable poker games. The five-time NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons faces an indictment that carries a imaginable condemnation of up to 20 years successful situation for each count.

Prosecutors allege that Billups was progressive successful a blase strategy to manipulate poker games successful assorted locations, including Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons. The strategy allegedly utilized the popularity of nonrecreational athletes to pull affluent players and past conned them done high-tech equipment. "During the operation, they utilized blase technology, including modified card-shuffling machines, hidden spot cameras and peculiar poker tables equipped with card-reading X-ray machines," prosecutors said.

Allegedly, the victims were defrauded for astir 7 cardinal dollars, starting successful 2019. Billups allegedly served arsenic a "mask" to pull the attraction of affluent players. In 1 example, the organizers stated successful the messages that the unfortunate was "eager to suffer wealth from Billups due to the fact that she was infatuated with the star".

Defense attorney's answer

Chris Heywood's lawyer powerfully denied the allegations: "Billups is simply a antheral of integrity," helium said, adding that the government's claims defy logic. Along with Billups, the charges besides see erstwhile NBA subordinate and adjunct manager Damon Jones. He, on with Miami Heat defender Terry Rozier, is charged with utilizing insider accusation to hole bets connected NBA games betwixt 2022 and 2024. Both pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors further allege that the organizers paid a information of the profits to the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno transgression families to clasp poker events successful their territories. Mafia members allegedly carried retired extortion, assaults and robberies to support the operation. A full of 31 radical person been charged, including each associated actors successful this analyzable scheme.