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Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., was encouraged by the start Portland Trail Blazers new season, but just a day after the team opened, it was mired in controversy following an FBI investigation.
Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA Security guard Damon Jones was among more than two dozen arrested Thursday as part of a wide-ranging FBI investigation. Billups allegedly participated in a nationwide poker game involving members of the Cosa Nostra crime families.
Wyden, who loves basketball and played at UC Santa Barbara in the 1960s, was as shocked as the rest of sports fans to hear the news, especially since it affected his local team.
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Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wears a Portland Trail Blazers-themed Rip City cap at the Hart Building on Aug. 4, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.)
“I will tell you this is a very sad day for all of us as sports fans,” Wyden told reporters when asked about his thoughts on the investigation. It did not expand further.
Joseph Nocella, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in announcing the investigation Thursday that the alleged takedown poker schemers targeted victims known as “fish” who were lured by giving them the chance to play alongside former professional athletes like Billups. These athletes were known as “face cards”.
HOW CHAUNCEY BILLUPS AND DAMON JONES ARE ALLEGEDLY USED TO COORCE VICTIMS INTO ILLEGAL POKER PLAYS
Nocella added that the fish did not know that the “face cards” were part of the scheme.
On the sports gambling side of the investigation, Nocella said scammers were allegedly given non-public information about who would be missing future games or when they would be withdrawing early due to injury or illness.
Nocella mentioned the case Jontay Porterformer Toronto Raptors player who received a lifetime ban from the NBA and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a gambling scheme last year.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, leaves a Senate Democratic caucus at the U.S. Capitol building on October 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“In one case, they obtained information by threatening current gambler Porter over his pre-existing gambling debts,” Nocella said, referring to the Cosa Nostra crime families. “The defendants used this information to place hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent bets, mostly on the performance of individual players.
“The defendants relied on a network of fake gamblers who placed maximum bets to increase their potential profits. Most of these bets were successful, with estimated losses running into millions of dollars. The defendants then laundered their illicit winnings through various means.”
The Blazers released a statement about Billups later Thursday.
“We are aware of the allegations against head coach Chauncey Billups, and the Trail Blazers are fully cooperating with the investigation,” the team said. “Billups has been placed on leave with immediate effect and Thiago Splitter will take over as head coach on an interim basis.
“Any additional questions should be directed to the NBA.”
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden speaks at a “Say NO to Tax Breaks for Billionaires and Corporations” rally at the U.S. Capitol on April 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Jemaal Countess/Getty Images)
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The NBA, which was involved in the investigation, immediately placed Billups and Rozier on leave.
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal charges announced today,” the league said. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are taking leave from their teams effective immediately and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities. We take these allegations seriously and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
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