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Former NBA guard and coach Damon Jones has pleaded not guilty in two separate federal gambling cases in Brooklyn, where prosecutors accuse him of involvement in multimillion-dollar betting and poker schemes tied to organized crime. The 11-year NBA veteran entered his pleas through a court-appointed attorney during back-to-back arraignments and was released on a US$200,000 bond secured by his family’s Texas home.
Federal prosecutors allege that Jones, 48, participated in a wide-ranging gambling operation that exploited non-public injury information from NBA games to place high-value bets before the data became public. In one cited message from February 2023, Jones allegedly instructed a co-conspirator to “get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out,” referring to a game in which LeBron James, his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, sat out due to an ankle injury.
Authorities also allege that in January 2024, Jones accepted US$2,500 from associate Marves Fairley for a betting tip about Lakers star Anthony Davis, who was expected to play limited minutes. Davis instead played a full game, scoring 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, prompting Fairley to request a refund. Prosecutors argue these incidents form part of a broader scheme involving the misuse of insider sports data.
The second case focuses on an elaborate poker operation that prosecutors say used rigged shuffling machines, marked cards, and X-ray-equipped tables to manipulate outcomes. Jones, they claim, was one of several recognizable players recruited to draw wealthy participants into the fixed games. He allegedly received US$2,500 to play in a staged game in the Hamptons, responding in one message, “y’all know I know what I’m doing!!”
According to federal filings, the crackdown includes more than 30 defendants linked to organized crime groups, including the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno families. Prosecutors said the operation generated millions in proceeds, with some cases involving violent tactics to collect debts.
Among those charged are Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, both scheduled to appear in court on November 24. Fairley also pleaded not guilty and was granted release on a US$200,000 bond backed by family members.
The government’s filings describe Robert Stroud, 67, as a key organizer. A search of his Florida property uncovered poker chips, hidden cameras, and surveillance equipment. Stroud remains under home confinement, while another defendant, Angelo Ruggiero Jr., had his request for a US$5 million bond denied.
Jones’s attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, appointed under the Criminal Justice Act, said the defense may engage in plea discussions. The court has restricted Jones’s travel to parts of Texas and New York City and banned him from all gambling activities.
Jones, who earned over US$20 million during his NBA career, was part of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 championship staff. For now, he maintains his innocence against charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, as the court prepares to revisit the high-profile NBA betting and poker cases later this month.
