Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups denies wrongdoing after being arrested by the FBI in a gambling case.
“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows that he is an honest man; Honest people do not deceive or deceive others.” – Coach's lawyer Chris Haywood said Fox Sports reports this.
Billups' attorney added that the coach “will never, ever bet on basketball games, provide inside information, or sacrifice the trust of his team and the League as doing so would tarnish the game to which he has dedicated his entire life.”
Billups, 49, was arrested at his home in Oregon on Thursday and was among about 30 others charged in the FBI's Operation Royal Flush case, which was launched under the Biden administration to track a gambling syndicate with ties to organized crime.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was also arrested in a separate but related illegal gambling case.
According to New York PostA source told them that “Billups, an NBA Hall of Famer, is charged with participating in an alleged illegal poker ring linked to the Bonanno, Genovese and Colombo crime families.”
The FBI alleges that Billups was fully aware that the gambling crew was defrauding victims of their money “using a rigged shuffling machine.”
Following the arrest, the Trail Blazers issued a statement.
“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 effective immediately and Thiago Splitter will assume head coaching duties on an interim basis. Any additional questions should be directed to the NBA.”
The coach was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering and faces trial in New York on November 24.
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