Court records indicate that several defendants in a major NBA gambling indictment are negotiating plea deals. The case involves three prominent NBA figures amid allegations of insider betting and rigged poker games. A status conference for all 31 defendants is scheduled for next week.
A sweeping federal indictment has drawn the NBA into a gambling scandal that merges two separate investigations, potentially simplifying through plea negotiations. According to court documents reported by NBC News, multiple defendants among the 31 charged are in talks with prosecutors for possible plea bargains.
The NBA-connected individuals named include Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones. The filings do not identify which specific defendants are involved in the discussions. However, during a hearing earlier this month, Jones's attorney mentioned that he and the government might be engaging in plea talks.
The allegations center on the misuse of inside information for betting and a rigged poker game equipped with high-tech devices. All defendants are set to appear in court next week for a status conference. While it's uncertain if guilty pleas will lead to additional charges, such agreements often help prosecutors target higher or lower levels in the operation, potentially implicating more recognizable figures in this case.