Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty at NBA gambling arraignment as Trail Blazers coach

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in the illegal gambling case that has rocked the NBA.

A five-time All-Star and former NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons, Billups was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on Monday morning. He is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering after allegedly taking part in a $7million rigged poker scheme backed by the Bonanno, Genovese, and Gambino organized crime families.

The charges carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison if he is convicted. 

The case’s 31 co-defendants, including Billups, remained in the Eastern District of New York courtroom after his arraignment for a status conference, where Judge Ramon E. Reyes said he hopes to start the trial by September of 2026. A few attorneys previously stated the possibility the case could take ‘years,’ but Reyes on Monday said that is ‘not his intention.’ 

With that in mind, Reyes scheduled a following status hearing for March 4 at 2pm. He also designated U.S. v Aiello as a ‘complex case,’ which is typically a way of managing the proceedings and limiting court costs. Prosecutors expect to analyze around a terabyte of electronic information during discovery. 

Dressed in a grey suit, Billups appeared calm alongside his attorney Marc Mukasey, who entered the ‘not guilty’ plea on the 49-year-old Basketball Hall of Famer’s behalf. Outside of answering ‘yes’ to a series of Reyes’ questions about his case, Billups remained quiet over his hour or so in the courtroom before exiting alongside Mukasey without uttering word to pursuing media. 

Chauncey Billups has pleaded not guilty in the illegal gambling case that has rocked the NBA

Billups was arrested last month on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering

Billups’ bond has been set at $5 million. Mukasey said his client would post property as collateral and Billups’ wife and daughter co-signed the bond. The former University of Colorado star already surrendered his passport and agreed to pre-trial travel restrictions limiting him to Oregon, Colorado, and New York.

Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and ex-NBA guard and assistant coach Damon Jones were all arrested last month on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to prosecutors, Billups and Jones were used as ‘face cards’ to lure unsuspecting gamblers to rigged poker games in one alleged $7million scheme. 

Prosecutors alleged in the federal complaint that cheating technology was used to swindle unsuspecting gamblers. Such high-tech equipment allegedly included rigged shuffling machines as well as special contacts lenses and sunglasses to read the backs of playing cards. 

On several occasions, prosecutors claimed in the complaint, defendants and alleged co-conspirators used threats and violence to collect debts from victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gibaldi told the court Monday that some defendants have already begun plea negotiations with his office.  

Former NBA player Damon Jones (right) arrives to Monday’s status hearing in Brooklyn 

Co-defendant Sophia Wei (left) arrives at her hearing in Brooklyn on Monday morning 

Meanwhile, Jones and Rozier are accused of providing inside injury information to gamblers in a separate alleged sports betting scheme.

Although Billups has denied any wrongdoing through his attorney, he is believed to be ‘Co-Conspirator 8’ in the alleged sports betting scheme.

According to prospectors, Co-Conspirator 8 provided confidential game information to gamblers before it was publicly available. The complaint describes Co-Conspirator 8 as an Oregon resident who played in the NBA from 1997 until 2014 and now serves as a head coach — all characteristics that apply to Billups.

Thus far, Billups has only been charged over his alleged involvement in the rigged poker game scheme described by prosecutors.  

Jones, too, was on hand in the Eastern District of New York courtroom for Monday’s status hearing. He previously entered a ‘not guilty’ plea in the case. 

Shane Hennen, known as ‘Sugar’, arrives at Brooklyn Federal Court for a status hearing

Rozier’s arraignment is scheduled for December 8. He has previously issued a denial through his attorney. 

An attorney representing co-defendant and former boxer Curtis Meeks pushed to modify his client’s conditions for release on Monday, but Reyes upheld the court-ordered home confinement. 

Meeks is accused of supplying the cheating technology with co-defendants Tony Goodson, Shane Hennen, and Robert Stroud. 

With Billups away from the team on unpaid leave, the Blazers are currently 7-10 entering the week under interim coach Tiago Splitter.