Chauncey Billups’s Lawyer Issues Statement Following Arrest Over Gambling Charges

Trail Blazers caput coach Chauncey Billups was arrested Thursday arsenic portion of nan FBI's national gambling probe.

NBC News reported Billups's apprehension was not related to games he coached. Instead, nan apprehension was tied to an forbidden poker cognition associated pinch nan mafia, according to an ABC News report. He was released from custody and was seen leaving a Portland courthouse Thursday pursuing his arraignment.

Chris Heywood, Billups's attorney, provided a connection to ESPN, wherever he made clear his client's scheme to conflict nan allegations.

"Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is simply a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others," Heywood said successful a connection via ESPN Thursday. "To judge that Chauncey Billups did what nan national authorities is accusing him of is to judge that he would consequence his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, fto unsocial a paper game. Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has ne'er and would ne'er bet connected hoops games, supply insider information, aliases sacrifice nan spot of his squad and nan League, arsenic it would tarnish nan crippled he has devoted his full life to.

"Chauncey Billups has ne'er backed down. He does not scheme to do truthful now. He will conflict these allegations pinch nan aforesaid tenacity that marked his 28-year career. We look guardant to our time successful court."

The coach and erstwhile NBA star's alleged engagement in nan FBI's gambling probe revolves astir rigged poker games. FBI head Kash Patel and nan Justice Department opportunity that 4 of nan New York mafia’s 5 families were progressive successful nan scheme: nan Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese families. They allege nan perpetrators utilized poker spot tray analyzers, typical interaction lenses aliases eyeglasses, and an X-ray array to con participants retired of hundreds of thousands of dollars—and that Billups and erstwhile NBA subordinate and assistant coach Damon Jones were successful connected nan scheme. Jones was charged connected Thursday for an forbidden gambling lawsuit arsenic well.

In total, 34 group were indicted Thursday, six for a strategy related to rig performances and stock wrong accusation connected NBA games and 28 for nan lawsuit involving nan mafia and allegedly rigged poker games. Three individuals were indicted for some cases. Heat defender Terry Rozier was arrested Thursday arsenic portion of nan FBI's investigation into nan alleged forbidden sports gambling ring.

The NBA placed Billups connected contiguous leave, and nan Blazers named adjunct Tiago Splitter as their interim coach.

More connected NBA Gambling Investigation