Ron Wyden speaks on the FBI gambling investigation involving Blazers coach Chauncey Billups

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., was excited about the start Portland Trail Blazers New season, but one day after the team’s opener, the team is embroiled in controversy following an FBI investigation.

Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, along with former NBA Guard Damon Jones was among more than two dozen arrested as part of a broader FBI investigation Thursday. Billups was allegedly involved in a nationwide poker ring involving members of the La Cosa Nostra crime family.

The news that Wyden, who played at UC Santa Barbara in the 1960s, loves the game of basketball shocked other sports fans, especially as it affected the local team.

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Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wears a Portland Trail Blazers-themed Rip City hat at the Hart Building on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

“I will tell you that this is a very sad day for all of us as sports fans,” Wyden told reporters when asked about the investigation. He did not elaborate for any further comment.

Joseph Nosella, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said during an investigative announcement Thursday that the alleged masterminds in Poker Takedown targeted victims known as “fish” who were lured with the chance to play with former pro athletes like Billups. Those players were known as “face cards”.

How Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones Are Allegedly Used to Force Victims into Illegal Poker Games

Nosella added that “Fish” was unaware of the “face cards” that were part of the scheme.

As for the sports gambling side of the investigation, Nocella said the schemers were given non-public information about who would sit out future games or when they would take themselves out due to injuries or illnesses.

A specific example was brought up by Nocella, viz Jonte PorterThe former Toronto Raptors player received a lifetime ban from the NBA and pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a gambling scheme.

US Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) on Oct. 3 in Washington, DC. The federal government shut down early Wednesday after Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement on funding for 2025, leaving the Senate Democratic meeting in the US Capitol building. (Kevin Dietz/Getty Images)

“In one instance, they obtained their information by threatening a current player, Porter, because of his pre-existing gambling debts,” Nocella said, referring to the La Cosa Nostra crime families. “The defendants used this information to place hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent bets – mostly in the form of prop bets on the performance of individual players.

“The defendants relied on a network of straw bettors to place maximum bets to maximize their potential profits. Most of these bets were successful and the expected losses were in the millions of dollars. The defendants then laundered their illegal winnings in a variety of ways.”

The Blazers released a statement on Billups later Thursday.

“We are aware of the allegations against head coach Chauncey Billups and the Trail Blazers are cooperating fully with the investigation,” the team said. “Billups has been placed on leave immediately and Tiago Splitter will assume head coaching duties in the interim.

“Any further questions should be directed to the NBA.”

US Senator Ron Wyden speaks at a rally to say no to tax breaks for billionaires and corporations at the US Capitol on April 10, 2025 in Washington, DC (Jamel Countess/Getty Images)

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The NBA, which is cooperating with the investigation, placed Billups and Rozier on immediate suspension.

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal charges announced today,” the league said. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups have been placed on immediate leave from their teams and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations very seriously and the integrity of our sport is our highest priority.”

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