Former NBA authority Tim Donaghy warns ‘bigger scandal’ coming soon after sports betting and poker arrests
There can be a lot of gambling scams out there – especially at the college level.
Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who was previously imprisoned for match-fixing, described the NBA’s massive federal gambling statues involving the Trail Blazers coach and Hall of Famer. Chauncey Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cavaliers player and assistant Damon Jones Just the “tip of the iceberg,” saying student-athletes are likely participating in the games to earn quick money and support themselves.
“I think this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Donaghy said Thursday during an appearance on NewsNation’s “Cuomo Show” with Chris Cuomo.
“You might see a bigger scandal at the college level, because you have these young athletes who aren’t going to make it to the next level, and someone will offer them money to fix a game and they only win by 12 instead of 15, and they’ll take that money because they’ll need a way to support their family.”
The 13-year-old former official has previously spoken about his gambling addiction, which sparked an FBI investigation in 2007 and led to his conviction on charges of wire fraud and transmitting betting information across state lines.
He was reportedly paid $300,000 for providing betting tips to bookmakers.
Donaghy pleaded guilty, claiming he was pressured by the Gambino crime family, and served nearly 11 months of a 15-month sentence before being released in 2009.
Calling Thursday’s accusations “mind-boggling,” FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests of more than 30 people, including associates of four New York mafia families, in the stunning gambling crackdown.
Patel said the arrests came after a years-long investigation in 11 states.
One indictment targets an illegal high-stakes gambling ring accused of selling inside information to sports bettors, while another focuses on alleged poker games, federal officials said.
The FBI has arrested 31 people involved in a fake poker ring supported by organized crime families in New York City.
- Ernest Aiello – famous Bonanno mobster
- Nelson “Spanish J” Alvarez
- Louis “Law Up” Apicella
- Ammar “Flapper Poker” Al Awawda
- Saul Becher — Professional poker player
- Chauncey Billups – Portland Trail Blazers coach, NBA Hall of Famer and 2004 NBA champion
- Matthew “The Wrestler” Dadino
- Eric “Scary” Ernest
- Lee Fama — Professional poker player
- John Gallo
- Marco Garzon
- Thomas “Tommy Joyce” Gilardo – a famous Lucchese gangster who was indicted in 2013 for Porn star girlfriend hit
- Jimmy Gillette
- Tony “Black Tony” Goodson
- Kenny Hahn
- Shane “drunk” her
- Usman “Albanian Bruce” hottie
- Horatio is
- Chen “Scrolly” is
- Damon “Dee Jones” Jones – NBA player from 1998 to 2009
- Joseph Laney
- John “John South” Mazzola
- Curtis Mix
- Nicholas Minucci
- Michael Renzulli
- Anthony Ruggiero Jr
- Anthony “Doc” Schneiderman
- Robert “Black Robe” Stroud
- Seth Trustman
- Sophia “Bucky” Wee
- Julius Ziliani
Billups faces charges In an illegal poker scheme, While the link to Rozier’s accusations To a sports betting investigation involving alleged bet rigging.
Jones It appears in both cases.
Donaghy’s comments come ahead of the November 1 start Allow college athletes to bet Professional sports in shocking reversal.
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