NBA Gambling Scandal: All 31 Defendants Face Court as Prosecutors Reveal Early Plea Talks

New York, NY – November 24, 2025  In a packed Brooklyn federal courtroom that felt more like a high-stakes showdown than a routine hearing, all 31 defendants in the explosive NBA-linked gambling probe appeared before U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes on Monday, marking the latest twist in a scandal that has rocked the league and ensnared Mafia associates, Hall of Famers, and rising stars alike. As attorneys huddled and flashbulbs popped, federal prosecutors dropped a bombshell: preliminary plea negotiations are already underway with several suspects, signaling potential cracks in what could have been an epic courtroom battle.

The case, which erupted in October with a sweeping FBI sweep across 11 states, alleges a web of deceit involving rigged high-stakes poker games bilking victims out of millions and insider-trading-style sports bets on NBA matchups. Prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York painted a picture of organized crime at its slickest: members and associates of New York's four major Mafia families—Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, and Bonanno—allegedly orchestrated the schemes, using NBA insiders to lure marks and exploit nonpublic info for illicit gains.

At the heart of Monday's proceedings was Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP and Hall of Famer whose storied career now hangs in the balance. Entering the courthouse stone-faced, Billups—dressed in a sharp gray suit and flanked by his legal team—formally entered a not guilty plea to charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, each carrying a potential 20-year sentence. Released on a $5 million bond secured by a Colorado property, Billups showed little emotion as Judge Reyes set a trial date for September 2026, urging all sides to "get it ready to go."

"I'm not guilty, and we'll prove it," Billups' attorney, Marc Mukasey, declared outside the courthouse, echoing his client's steadfast denial. The NBA, which placed Billups on indefinite leave upon the indictment's unsealing, offered no immediate comment on the hearing but has vowed a full investigation into the league's integrity.The poker ring, dubbed by investigators as a "sophisticated cheating operation," reportedly employed high-tech gadgets like X-ray-equipped card tables and tampered shuffling machines to peek at opponents' hands, fleecing high-rollers in underground games from coast to coast. Billups and other defendants, including former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon "Mookie" Jones, stand accused of acting as "recruiters," sweet-talking unsuspecting players into the traps. Jones, who has pleaded not guilty in both the poker case and a related insider-betting probe, was present Monday; his lawyer previously hinted at possible plea talks but offered no updates post-hearing.

Separate but intertwined is the sports betting arm of the scandal, where six defendants—including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Jones—are charged with using confidential injury reports and lineup details to place fraudulent wagers on games involving the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, and Trail Blazers from 2022 to 2024. Rozier, who was erroneously linked to the poker scheme in early reports but is solely in the betting case, is slated for his own arraignment on December 8 and plans to plead not guilty, per his counsel. One bettor, Marves Fairley, is already deep in plea discussions, with filings suggesting a resolution "without trial."

The real jaw-dropper came from prosecutor Michael Gibaldi, who addressed the court with measured optimism: "With respect to at least some defendants, plea negotiations have begun." In pre-hearing filings, the government elaborated that while "substantial" deals remain premature, "productive discussions" with multiple defense teams could avert a full trial, potentially resolving cases for "several defendants." Neither side named names, leaving speculation to swirl—could it be low-level mob enforcers flipping first, or perhaps a star athlete seeking leniency?

"This is the domino effect we've been waiting for," said one anonymous federal law enforcement source close to the probe. "When the feds start talking pleas this early, it means someone's sweating—and it trickles down fast." The indictment, a seven-count behemoth unsealed last month, accuses the group of raking in tens of millions through the dual schemes, blending old-school mob muscle with modern NBA access in a betrayal that has fans questioning the game's underbelly.

As the hearing wrapped—defendants shuffling out under a media glare—Judge Reyes scheduled a follow-up status conference, emphasizing efficiency amid the high-profile stakes. For the NBA, already reeling from a summer of betting scandals, the fallout could reshape coaching benches and locker rooms. Billups, a five-time All-Star with a Finals ring from his Detroit Pistons days, faces not just prison time but a legacy stain; Rozier, in his prime at 31, risks his Heat contract and endorsement empire.Yet amid the indictments and infighting, a silver lining for prosecutors: those early plea whispers could unlock deeper revelations about the Mafia's infiltration of pro sports. As one defense attorney quipped off-record, "In this game, folding early might be the smartest play." With negotiations heating up, the basketball world holds its breath—will the full house go all-in at trial, or will the pot be split before the river card turns? Stay tuned; the next hand could change everything.