Former NBA Player Damon Jones Pleads Not Guilty in Gambling Case
Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones has entered not guilty pleas in two cases alleging his involvement in illegal gambling rings. Jones, who played for several teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn before separate judges overseeing the complex cases. He was released on a $200,000 bond, secured by his parents’ Texas home, with conditions that he must not gamble online or in establishments and must not have any contact with organized crime.
Allegations and Charges
Jones is accused of participating in a pair of schemes that together saw dozens of alleged mafia figures and athletes charged on October 23. One scheme revolved around alleged cheating in high-stakes poker games operated by reputed members of the mob, while the other case involves bets on basketball games, which were allegedly placed using insider information related to injury reports. Jones is among three people arrested in connection with both schemes, with a total of 34 people charged across two indictments.
The former NBA guard is accused of sharing or attempting to share inside information with bettors, including a tip about a prominent NBA player, reportedly LeBron James, a former teammate and longtime friend. James is not accused of any wrongdoing. The indictment alleges Jones sent a text message to a co-conspirator on February 9, 2023, saying: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight.” James missed the Lakers’ game that night against the Milwaukee Bucks due to ankle soreness.
Poker Cheating Scheme
Jones is separately accused of participating in an elaborate poker cheating scheme in which wealthy victims were allegedly lured to play in rigged games against athletes, referred to as “face cards.” The indictment claims Jones was one such “face card” and that the scheme brought in more than $7 million for participants. The games were orchestrated using high-tech gadgets, including X-ray tables, a rigged card-shuffling machine, hidden cameras, and glasses designed to detect otherwise invisible markings on cards.
Several alleged members of the mafia are accused of participating in the rigged poker schemes, including Angelo Ruggiero, Jr., who prosecutors say was a member of the Genovese crime family and an organizer of one of the recurring games. Robert Stroud, 67, an alleged primary organizer of the scheme, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn to plead not guilty and is accused of bringing Jones and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups into the conspiracy.
Next Steps
Jones’s case will continue to unfold in the coming weeks, with Billups and Rozier scheduled to appear in court on November 24. The outcome of the case remains uncertain, but the allegations against Jones and others have shed light on the complex and often secretive world of high-stakes sports betting and organized crime. For more information on this case and others like it, visit Here
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