Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has retained high-profile attorney Marc Mukasey, a former lawyer for President Donald Trump, to represent him in a federal investigation into illegal gambling, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported. Mukasey, known for his white-collar defense work, also defended Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher and FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested early last Thursday in separate federal probes related to illegal gambling and sports betting. Billups was taken into custody at his Portland home, accused of participating in mafia-linked poker operations across New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Rozier was arrested at an Orlando hotel for allegedly providing insider NBA information to co-conspirators.
The federal investigation, described by prosecutors as a multi-state criminal enterprise, involves wire fraud, money laundering, and extortion. Authorities allege Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones acted as “face cards” to lure wealthy players into rigged games, with victims unknowingly losing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per session.
Prosecutors say the scheme used advanced tools, including altered shufflers, hidden cameras, pre-marked contact lenses, and even an X-ray table to manipulate outcomes. “Victims were attracted to play alongside well-known professional athletes and coaches, like Chauncey Billups, only to be unknowingly deceived through rigged shuffling machines,” FBI official Christopher G. Raia said. The operation allegedly funded Italian crime families in New York.
Rozier’s case reportedly links to a previous investigation involving Jontay Porter. Damon Jones also faces charges related to passing NBA information, including player absences, to betting networks. Both Rozier and Billups were released on bail last Thursday; Rozier posted a $6 million home as collateral, while Billups and Rozier must surrender their passports and are restricted from leaving New York.
Following Billups’ arrest, Tiago Splitter has been named interim head coach of the Trail Blazers. The NBA has placed both Billups and Rozier on unpaid leave as federal proceedings continue, with the league monitoring developments closely.
