In April 2019, Las Vegas was buzzing with activity, with poker games taking place as usual in the gambling hub of America. However, this particular poker game was anything but typical. Notably present at the table was Chauncey Billups, a former NBA star set to become the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. His real purpose for attending the game was to entice unsuspecting wealthy players, all while orchestrating a scheme to siphon thousands of dollars from them.
This incident exemplifies a broader, intricate network of underground poker games that authorities claim was often linked to organized crime. These operations reportedly employed sophisticated cheating technologies reminiscent of those seen in spy films. On Thursday, federal prosecutors announced charges against 31 individuals believed to be involved in this extensive operation that spanned from Nevada’s deserts to the shores of the Hamptons, including prominent figures like Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones.
According to law enforcement, the Vegas game utilized a rigged shuffling machine that had been covertly altered to favor the organizers. Victims were allegedly defrauded of sums exceeding $50,000. Billups, however, played a less technical role in the scheme: he was essentially the lure.
During the Thursday arrests, Billups emerged as the most notable figure in an operation that authorities claim swindled $7 million, involving members and associates from notorious organized crime families such as the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. FBI Director Kash Patel held a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn to highlight the significance of this bust, which marks one of the most substantial scandals in recent American sports history.
Billups’ attorney has vehemently denied the allegations against him. “To think that Chauncey Billups would engage in the actions the federal government accuses him of is to believe he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, reputation, and freedom,” stated Chris Heywood. “He would not jeopardize those aspects for anything, especially not for a poker game.”
At 49 years old, Billups has been placed on leave by the NBA and is also connected to another gambling investigation that the government has pursued for years, one with more direct implications for actual basketball games. His attorney reiterated that Billups has never engaged in gambling on basketball games, nor would he compromise his team’s or league’s trust.
As detailed in the indictment, Billups and Jones allegedly shared insider information about players being benched with individuals involved in the poker scheme. Billups—referred to in the indictment as “Co-Conspirator 8″—allegedly informed a fellow game participant that the Blazers planned to “tank” a match against the Chicago Bulls by resting key players, allowing a conspirator to profit by betting on a Portland loss before the players were officially ruled out.
Prosecutors claim that the conspirators had been collaborating seamlessly for years, and the poker games had evolved into highly organized operations. They allegedly modified DeckMate shufflers with technology capable of reading cards and transmitting that information to an off-site operator. This operator would communicate with a person at the table designated as the “Quarterback” or “Driver,” who utilized prearranged signals to inform co-conspirators about the game’s progress.
Additionally, the group employed various cheating methods, including poker-chip trays fitted with hidden cameras, X-ray tables capable of reading face-down cards, and even contact lenses that could decipher marked cards. However, their most effective strategy involved using “face cards”—former professional athletes like Billups—who attracted potential victims to the game and earned a share of the winnings for their involvement.
During the Las Vegas game in 2019, one participant suggested that Billups should intentionally lose a hand to avoid raising suspicion. Players were so captivated by Billups that another conspirator remarked that they had no reason for concern, stating that the victim seemed eager to hand over his money, clearly star-struck by the former athlete.
After participating in another rigged poker game in late October 2020, Billups reportedly received a payment of $50,000. Basketball was never far from the players’ minds; in a game held in September 2023, one defendant texted Jones in real-time, advising him to focus on two players renowned for their cheating skills, comparing one to Steph Curry and the other to LeBron James. Jones responded confidently, asserting, “Y’all know I know what I’m doing!!”
Jones is among three individuals facing charges in both indictments. Another key figure in these scandals is Shane Hennen, who has long been on law enforcement’s radar. Prosecutors allege that Hennen aided in supplying the cheating technology and participated in the rigged poker games. He acted on tips from Billups regarding player rest days for the Blazers and also conspired to bet on the manipulated performances of Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter during two games in early 2024.
The government charged Porter and several co-conspirators in the summer of 2024, but Hennen was not included, leading to speculation that he might be cooperating with investigators. Hennen, who has a significant criminal background, including convictions for aggravated assault and drug-related charges, purchased a one-way ticket to Colombia through Panama in January, coinciding with what the government described in court filings as a deadline. He was arrested at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas while attempting to board his flight, carrying multiple cell phones and nearly $10,000 in cash, claiming he was traveling to Colombia for dental care.
Following this incident, the government charged Hennen regarding his alleged involvement in the Porter scheme. Subsequently, both government lawyers and Hennen’s attorneys informed the federal court in Brooklyn of ongoing negotiations between Hennen and prosecutors.
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