Ex-Lakers Assistant Likely To Plead Guilty In Gambling Case

Back in October, the NBA was rocked with the worst pro sports betting scandal since Pete Rose way, way back when. It involved an active NBA player (Terry Rozier), a head coach and Hall of Fame player (Chauncey Billups), and an ex-NBA player turned coach with ties to LeBron James (Damon Jones).

All three were arrested by the FBI, along with dozens of other lesser-known individuals. The case has since gone under the radar because it’s barely getting into legal precedents. So it’s been about half a year of speculation.

That’s changing later this month, when some defendants are expected to appear in court. One of those is Jones, a longtime NBA stalwart as a role player and assistant coach. Rumors are swirling that Jones will plead guilty to charges, one of the first big shoes to drop in the case. Keep reading and we’ll tell you EXACTLY what’s transpiring.

Jones Could Be The First Shoe To Drop

Recent court filings uncovered that Jones is scheduled appear before a US magistrate judge for a change of plea hearing on 28 April. By all indications, that plea change will be to guilty.

When the bust happened, Jones was accused of releasing insider information to bettors while acting as an unpaid Lakers assistant. The description in the case matches LeBron James — a former or teammate of Jones during his first stint in Cleveland. James did nothing wrong, but Jones supposedly told NBA betting folks he would not be playing in a Lakers game, well before the public knew (and the NBA betting lines switched). He also did the same with Anthony Davis, it is being alleged.

If Jones pleads guilty, he’ll be the first to do so in the far-reaching case. He’s facing felony charges, and has not cooperated with authorities up until this point, says his attorney Kenneth Montgomery. But, maybe, just maybe, Jones sees the writing against the wall for himself.

Jones joined the Lakers in 2023, likely through his connection with James. The two are long-time friends and played together from 2005 to 2008 with the Cavaliers — during the same time that James was ascending to superstardom. One of those “I made it moments” was the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals when LeBron scored 25 consecutive points late in the game (and 48 total) to lead the Cavs past the Pistons.

Also on the floor that iconic moment? Billups, who’s also linked in this story. Jones is in trouble for a second illegal gambling scheme besides leaking information, and that one is directly tied to Billups, as we get into next.

Jones Was Also Scamming Poker Players

There are actually two FBI cases, not one. There’s the US vs Earnest case, which is what we already covered: selling inside information to bettors. For his alleged actions here, Jones is facing conspiracy charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

But Jones is also in the second case, US vs Aiello. This one sounds like a plot lifted straight from a Martin Scorsese film. The alleged story goes something like this: ex-NBA players like Billups and Jones were used by Italian crime families to recruit poker players.

Nothing wrong there, but here’s the plot twist: the poker games were rigged from the start. Rigged shuffling machines, see-through technology to spot cards while face down, just real Hollywood-like devices used to “tilt the cards in favor” of the house (the mob and players). The NBA players knew it was rigged and still recruited unsuspecting players.

Billups, because of his bigger name, is getting most the attention for this bonkers scheme, but Jones was also a part of it, says investigators. The two crossed paths in November during a hearing in Brooklyn. At least in the courtroom, the two players did not speak or acknowledge each other. It was said the tension in the room could be cut with a knife.

Billups is facing multiple counts in the illegal poker case. When asked if he’d plead guilty, Billups has not answered. But for all we know, the writing is against the wall for him, too. Just speculation, though.

Rozier, whom we mentioned earlier, has already pleaded not guilty to his charges in December. He’s accused of faking an injury to help select sports betting app users win a prop bet on his in-game performance. Rozier is not included in the rigged poker case, though. The Heat released Rozier from his contract just recently, and his NBA career is likely over.

April Will Be A Big Month For The Cases

Expect a lot of movement on these cases throughout the month. For one, Jones’ plea change hearing is scheduled to take place the day after Rozier returns to court for a motion to dismiss hearing. We’re not saying the charges will be dismissed, but Rozier has filed to do so. Our hunch says that won’t be granted, though.

There’s also an all-important April 20 deadline. That’s when the government has to submit several filings to US Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo. The latter has asked federal prosecutors to file an elements sheet, a plea penalty sheet known as a Pimentel letter, and a letter indicating its position regarding detention. The government is fully expected to comply.

We’ll be following this bombshell story closely so be sure to check back with us regularly. Whatever results has the power to send shockwaves across the legal betting industry.