Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty on Monday to federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy related to rigged poker games backed by the Mafia. The Hall of Famer was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court as one of 31 defendants in the sprawling case dubbed Operation Royal Flush. Billups was released on $5 million bail secured by his Colorado home.
Chauncey Billups, the suspended head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a 2004 NBA Finals MVP, appeared in a Brooklyn federal courthouse on November 24, 2025, for his arraignment. He faces charges stemming from an alleged scheme to rig high-stakes underground poker games in locations including Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami, and the Hamptons. Prosecutors accuse Billups of acting as a "face card"—a celebrity draw to lure wealthy players into the games, which used high-tech cheating devices like rigged shuffle machines, X-ray tables, special contact lenses, and hidden cameras to defraud victims of an estimated $7 million since at least 2019.
The operation allegedly shared proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno crime families, who provided protection through assaults, extortion, and robbery. Billups received a $50,000 wire transfer after a rigged game in October 2020, according to prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes set bail at $5 million, secured by Billups' home in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and co-signed by his wife and daughter. Bond conditions prohibit gambling, contact with co-defendants or witnesses, and association with organized crime. Billups surrendered his passport and is limited to travel in seven states, including Oregon and New York.
The hearing included a status conference for all 31 defendants, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gibaldi noting that plea negotiations have begun with several. Defense attorneys opposed splitting the case into groups, and Reyes aims for a trial by September 2026. The next hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2026.
Billups' attorney, Chris Heywood, previously defended him, stating, "To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom." The NBA placed Billups on unpaid leave after his October 23 arrest, with assistant coach Tiago Splitter serving as interim. The league emphasized, "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority."
The case also involves former NBA player Damon Jones, who pleaded not guilty on November 6 to related charges and was released on $200,000 bail. Jones faces accusations in both the poker scheme and a separate sports betting indictment for providing insider information. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is scheduled for arraignment on December 8 in connection with the betting case, where he allegedly pulled himself from a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, leading to $200,000 in prop bets.
