NBA’s Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones arrested by FBI in illegal gambling probe

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA star Damon Jones are three of thirty-one people charged on Thursday for allegedly turning professional basketball into what authorities describe as a criminal gambling operation that used inside information to place illegal bets.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the charges at a news conference in New York City, joined by other law enforcement officials. Patel called the arrests “historic,” and said that it involved the NBA and the organized crime group, La Cosa Nostra.

Patel added: “This is an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years. The FBI led a coordinated takedown across 11 states to arrest over 30 individuals today responsible for this case, which is very much ongoing.

“But we also entered and executed a system of justice against La Cosa Nostra, to include the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families.

“The charges and arrests that were taken down across this country range from wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling. This FBI will leave no room for any perpetrating of crime across this country.”

BREAKING — The Department of Justice is finally announcing something this morning, at 10a ET, that @pablofindsout has long been anticipating: "numerous arrests in illegal sports betting and poker games schemes." (A lot more to come.) pic.twitter.com/qwdjt5dfbB

— Pablo Torre