New evidence has emerged in the federal investigation into Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, exposing the alleged inner workings of a mafia-linked, illegal poker operation, The Athletic’s Carson Kessler and Nathan Fenno reported. Central to the scheme is Eric “Spook” Earnest, a convicted felon with decades-long ties to drug trafficking and organized crime, who allegedly connected Billups to high-stakes games.
Earnest, 53, reportedly boasted about his NBA connections during wiretaps nearly 20 years ago, though law enforcement initially dismissed it as exaggeration. Court records and social media reveal Earnest’s presence in clubs, music events, and private gambling circles, providing opportunities to interact with professional athletes.
Federal prosecutors allege Billups acted as a “Face Card,” attracting wealthy participants to rigged poker games across New York, Las Vegas, Miami, and the Hamptons. Advanced devices like altered shufflers, hidden cameras, contact lenses, and even an X-ray table were allegedly used to manipulate outcomes in favor of co-conspirators. FBI official Christopher G. Raia stated that the scheme “exploited the fame of some and the wallets of many to fund New York’s Italian crime families.”
Documents show Billups participated in a Las Vegas game with Earnest just two months after Earnest’s 2019 release from federal custody. Text messages cited in a detention order illustrate the alleged coordination: “Spook and Chauncey hit 2 gutshot on the river against the same guy … both calls were over 30k,” one participant wrote. Another message added, “So I was thinking maybe instead of u playing we let let one of the middle eastern guy play…and whenever he got the winning hand Chauncey and/ spook lose to him…”
Between December 2022 and March 2024, Earnest reportedly received confidential details from Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones, which were then sold to co-defendant Marves Fairley to place bets on games. In one instance, Billups allegedly informed Earnest the Trail Blazers would tank a game against the Chicago Bulls, enabling bets to be placed accordingly.
Billups and Rozier, arrested last Thursday in separate investigations, were arraigned and released on bail. Rozier posted a $6 million home as collateral, while both were required to surrender their passports and are restricted from leaving New York. Tiago Splitter has been named interim head coach in Portland.
The investigation, now encompassing over 30 individuals, includes wire fraud, money laundering, and extortion. The league has placed both Billups and Rozier on unpaid leave, pending the outcome of federal proceedings.
