Damon Jones Expected to Change Plea to Guilty For Role in Sports Betting Scandal

• Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones has requested a change-of-plea hearing for his role in a sports betting scandal
• Jones originally entered a plea of not guilty for the sports betting charges, but is now expected to change his plea to guilty
• Jones was arrested for his alleged role in an illegal sports betting and poker scheme that involved current and former NBA players and coaches

Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones is expected to change his plea to guilty for his alleged role in an illegal sports betting scheme.

Jones requested an in-person change-of-plea hearing, which has been scheduled for April 28 at 11 a.m. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Jones is expected to change his original plea of not guilty to guilty during the hearing.

The former NBA player and coach was allegedly involved in both the sports betting and poker schemes. He is not expected to change his plea of not guilty for charges related to the poker scheme.

Shared Non-Public Information

Jones is expected to be the first individual arrested in the scheme to plead guilty.

In October, news broke that Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier had been arrested through a federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for potentially manipulating a 2023 game performance as part of an illegal sports betting ring. Shortly after, news also broke that current NBA coach and hall of fame member Chauncey Billups and former NBA player and coach Jones had also been arrested for their roles in an illegal poker scheme involving New York families of the mafia.

According to Patel, the multi-year investigations led to 34 arrests across 11 states and involved “tens of millions of dollars” won through illegal means.

The sports betting case, dubbed “Operation Nothing But Net” by the FBI, involved similar individuals who also orchestrated the sports betting scheme involving former Raptors center Jontay Porter. Porter pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in manipulating his performance outcomes and is awaiting sentencing. He has also been permanently banned from the NBA.

 Jones shared non-public information regarding Lebron James during his 2022-2023 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jones had restricted access to work with James during the season and allegedly shared information with gamblers that James would miss a Feb. 9, 2023 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to ankle soreness.

Nocella said the legalized sports betting operators had no knowledge of the conspiracy and are “victims” in this sports betting case.

Patel said the legal gaming industry is safe and those participating in the markets have “nothing to worry about.”

“If you’re participating in the legal gambling industry you have nothing to worry about. If you’re participating in illegal conduct you have everything to worry about, and this case shows it,” Patel said.

Jones, Billups Used in Poker Scheme

The poker scheme, dubbed “Operation Royal Flush” by the FBI, involved several New York Italian mafia families organizing rigged poker games to scam millions of dollars from its players. Thirteen members from New York mafia families have been indicted in the case.

According to Nocella, the poker games were rigged with various technological means to ensure who would win, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars being scammed from players at the games.

Players were promised the opportunity to play with Billups and Jones, former NBA players and coaches, to lure them into the games.