(AsiaGameHub) – On Tuesday, former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones admitted guilt to two counts of conspiracy related to wire fraud. These charges place him at the center of two federal investigations involving the leak of NBA betting data and the operation of dishonest poker games.
Good to Know
- Damon Jones confessed to sharing confidential NBA injury updates with gamblers.
- Federal authorities stated the leaked data concerned LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
- Jones also acknowledged using his professional status to attract high-net-worth individuals to rigged poker matches.
Jones Confesses to Involvement in Betting Plot
Jones entered his guilty pleas during two separate court sessions in New York. In the sports gambling matter, he admitted to using information “acquired through my connections as a former player,” per reports from The Associated Press.
According to an October 2025 indictment, federal prosecutors alleged that Jones provided bettors with injury details regarding LeBron James and Anthony Davis. On Tuesday, Jones conceded that he utilized non-public information to defraud sportsbooks and breached the NBA’s code of conduct.
“I wish to offer a sincere apology to the court, my family, my colleagues, and the National Basketball Association,” Jones remarked in a statement read during the hearing.
The legal proceedings also involve Terry Rozier, the former Miami Heat guard currently facing bribery charges, along with nearly 30 other defendants. Jones had initially entered a not guilty plea before requesting a change in early April.
Prosecutors claimed that before a February 9, 2023, game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, Jones instructed bettors to “place a significant bet on Milwaukee” before the public was informed that James would not play. Jones, who served as an unofficial assistant coach for the Lakers, reportedly told the group to “bet enough” so he could receive a share of the profits.
The case further details a January 2024 game involving Anthony Davis. Authorities alleged that Jones received a $2,500 payment via a peer-to-peer app for Davis’s injury status. Because Davis ultimately played in the game, co-conspirator Marves Fairley later sought a refund of the money.
Poker Case Increases Legal Jeopardy
Jones also pleaded guilty in a separate investigation regarding fixed poker games in the Hamptons, New York, and Miami. He admitted to leveraging his NBA profile to “attract high-stakes gamblers” while knowing the games were fraudulent.
“I am deeply sorry to everyone impacted by my actions,” Jones stated.
Federal officials reported that more than 10 victims lost approximately $10 million in the poker scheme, which they claim had ties to organized crime. Suspended Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also charged in connection with the case.
Jones has agreed to pay $73,000 in restitution. He is scheduled to be sentenced by two judges on January 6, 2027. The AP noted that sentencing guidelines suggest 21 to 27 months in prison for the sports betting charges and 48 to 63 months for the poker case.
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