Former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones was arraigned at Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday following his FBI arrest in connection to what federal authorities called an illegal gambling ring.
He pleaded not guilty, per the Associated Press.
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Jones, who was one of the 30-plus individuals arrested by the FBI in October as part of separate cases, did not take questions as he entered the courthouse.
The 49-year-old Jones was among the three people arrested with direct ties to the NBA. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were also arrested as part of the FBI’s illegal-gambling probe.
Billups and Rozier were involved in two separate indictments. Billups was accused of knowingly participating in a rigged poker game that had ties to the Mafia. Billups was brought in to give the game legitimacy, and to draw in wealthy customers. Individuals like Billups, who had celebrity status and the ability to draw players to the game, were known as “face cards” among co-conspirators.
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Rozier was accused of giving inside information to bettors for gambling purposes.
Jones was mentioned in both indictments. Jones, like Billups, reportedly also appeared at rigged poker games as a “face card.” Jones also reportedly used his NBA connections to share inside information with bettors for gambling purposes. In one instance, Jones may have informed bettors about the injury status of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who sat out of a 2023 game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an injury.
James and Jones were teammates for three seasons on the Cavaliers. Jones also played for nine other teams over his 11-year playing career in the NBA.
Following the arrests of Billups and Rozier, the NBA moved quickly to place them on immediate leave. Jones did not face punishment from the NBA, as he is no longer an active player or coach in the league.
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