FBI Busts Wide-Open: Over 30 Arrested in Mafia-Linked Gambling Scandal Shaking NBA's Core

The world of professional basketball was rocked on October 23, 2025, when the FBI unveiled a sweeping indictment against more than 30 individuals involved in two interconnected illegal gambling schemes. At the center of the storm: Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, both arrested in a probe that spans 11 states and implicates infamous Mafia families like the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. Described by FBI Director Kash Patel as a "historic arrest" of a "wide-sweeping criminal enterprise," the operation allegedly netted tens of millions in fraudulent gains through rigged poker games and insider sports betting. theguardian.com +1 This isn't just a sports story—it's a stark reminder of how the explosion of legal sports betting, legalized in 38 states since 2018, has created fertile ground for organized crime to infiltrate America's pastime.The arrests stem from two separate but overlapping indictments unsealed in Brooklyn federal court. The first targets an illegal sports betting ring where NBA insiders allegedly leaked confidential information to gamblers, enabling profitable wagers on player performances and game outcomes. Terry Rozier, 31, stands accused of participating in this scheme during his time with the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022-23 season. Prosecutors claim that on March 23, 2023, against the New Orleans Pelicans, Rozier informed co-conspirators he would exit early due to a minor injury. Armed with this nonpublic intel, the group placed over $200,000 in bets on his "under" prop lines—stats like points, rebounds, and assists—across multiple sportsbooks. Rozier played just nine minutes, cashing in tens of thousands in profits delivered to his home. nbcnews.com +1 This brazen act of game manipulation echoes the 2024 lifetime ban of Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for similar violations, marking the NBA's second high-profile scandal in as many years.The second indictment paints an even darker picture: a nationwide conspiracy to rig high-stakes underground poker games using high-tech cheating devices, backed by La Cosa Nostra crime families. Chauncey Billups, 49, and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones are named as "face cards"—celebrity lures designed to draw wealthy victims to the tables in upscale locales like Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons. Authorities allege the operation employed x-ray vision tables, pre-marked cards, and rigged shuffling machines to scam players out of at least $7.15 million since 2019. Billups, who won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and boasts a 117-212 coaching record in Portland since 2021, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and extortion. espn.com +1 Jones faces dual charges, bridging both schemes, while three defendants allegedly overlap in the frauds.At a fiery press conference in New York, Patel didn't mince words: "The fraud is mind-boggling. We're talking tens of millions of dollars in fraud, theft, and robbery across a multi-year investigation." nbcnews.com He highlighted violent elements, including a gunpoint robbery for a cheating device and extortion to collect gambling debts. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. called the poker ring "one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized," underscoring how Mafia remnants have adapted to the digital age with crypto laundering and app-based wagers. nbcnews.com +1 The probe, spanning years, involved tips from five NBA teams and led to 34 total arrests, with charges including wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling.The NBA's response was swift and severe. In a statement, the league announced that Rozier and Billups have been placed on immediate, indefinite leave, with the organization "reviewing the federal indictments" and cooperating fully with authorities. "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority," it read. theguardian.com +1 Portland quickly named assistant coach Tiago Splitter as interim head coach, while the Heat deferred comments to the league. The NBPA echoed concerns but criticized the FBI for leveraging the stars' names for publicity, stressing that "the integrity of the game is paramount." sports.yahoo.com Notably, Rozier was previously cleared by the NBA in January 2025 after handing over his phone voluntarily, but the league's lack of subpoena power allowed federal investigators to uncover deeper ties. usatoday.com Defenses mounted quickly. Rozier's attorney, Jim Trusty, blasted the arrest as a "photo op," noting his client was labeled a "subject, not a target" until agents raided his Orlando hotel room at dawn. "Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight," Trusty declared, alleging prosecutors revived a "non-case." nbcnews.com +1 Billups' lawyer, Chris Heywood, was equally defiant: "Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games... He will fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career." nbcnews.com Both were released on bond with conditions like passport surrender and no-contact orders with co-defendants. Jones has not yet commented.Social media erupted, with X (formerly Twitter) buzzing under hashtags like #NBAGamblingScandal and #MafiaNBA. Posts ranged from shock—"FBI ARRESTS Chauncey Billups And Terry Rozier Over Alleged Gambling Ring"—to skepticism: "Why doesn’t the FBI arrest the so-called 'Mafia' in 2025? Who is the 'Mafia'—John Gotti V?" Deadspin's clip of Patel's announcement garnered over 23,000 views in hours, amplifying the "historic" bust. @Deadspin Broader reactions tied it to rising sports betting addiction, with one user quipping, "Gambling is a slippery slope. How deep will this go?" @KTsportsmarket This scandal arrives amid a betting boom: U.S. sports wagering hit $119 billion in 2024, per the American Gaming Association, but with it comes vulnerabilities. The NBA, already stung by Porter's ban, faces questions on oversight—especially as stars like Rozier (earning $24 million annually) and Billups (a five-time All-Star with $160 million in career earnings) risk lifetime suspensions under league rules prohibiting any gambling on NBA events. theguardian.com For small businesses in sports marketing and tech trends like AI-driven betting analytics, this could tighten regulations, impacting 2025's projected $150 billion industry.As trials loom, the fallout could redefine NBA integrity. Will Rozier and Billups rebound, or is this the final buzzer? One thing's certain: in the high-stakes game of trust, the house—here, federal justice—always wins.