Chauncey Billups Arrested by FBI, Accused of Rigging Mafia-Backed Poker Games
The NBA has placed Billups on leave from the Trail Blazers in the aftermath of the arrest.
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Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was one of 34 people arrested by the FBI on Thursday morning in connection with two cases involving gambling. Billups is being accused of helping to rig underground poker games backed by the mafia. He is being charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
The NBA said in a statement that Billups has been placed on "immediate leave" from the Blazers while the league cooperates with the investigation.
The Blazers said in a statement that they are cooperating with authorities and assistant coach Tiago Splitter will become the team's interim head coach while Billups is on leave. A previously scheduled media availability following Thursday afternoon's practice was cancelled.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was also arrested Thursday for alleged involvement in a sports betting ring that involved sharing private information about NBA games with bettors. Billups is not listed as a defendant in that case, although a Blazers game from 2023 is a part of the allegations and details about an unnamed co-conspirator in the case match the Blazers' head coach.
