A further 12 defendants have requested to change their pleas to guilty in the rigged-poker case connected to an NBA sports-betting scandal.
US Attorney Joseph Nocella submitted a letter to the court on Tuesday, indicating that the 12 individuals intend to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud.
The defendants also faced charges of money laundering, operating an illegal gambling business, extortion, and robbery.
Billups Maintains Innocence as Others Plead Guilty
Chauncey Billups, who left his position as Portland Trail Blazers coach following his arrest, continues to plead not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges.
Others, however, have also changed their pleas to guilty in the case, including former NBA player Damon Jones. Last week, Ammar Awawdeh, who allegedly ran some of the poker games, also pleaded guilty.
Betting Tipster Among Guilty Pleas
Among those changing their plea this time is Shane Hennen, a betting tipster also indicted in the spot-fixing scandals that led to the arrests of NBA players Jontay Porter and Terry Rozier, as well as dozens of NCAA basketball players.
Along with co-conspirators, Hennen is accused of bribing players to underperform in matches. He admitted in a recent interview with The New York Times to participating in rigged poker games and wagering on markets using insider information.
Hennen has long made a living as a gambler, from hustling in pool halls to selling sports betting picks online. He defended using underhanded methods to make money, saying this is at the heart of what it means to be American.
“There ain’t one stockbroker who became rich just by guessing right all the time,” he said. “This is what the United States of America has revolved around, for hundreds of years.”
Games Used Cheating Technology To Catch ‘Fish’
Prosecutors allege Hennen helped organize the rigged games, provided technology to cheat, and benefited from using that technology when he participated.
The technology included rigged shuffling machines, hidden cameras, and communication devices to relay how participants should bet in the games. Prosecutors found images of a table used in the games that could read the cards from underneath.
Prosecutors say Billups participated in the games as a “face card,” using his NBA fame to attract the “fish” who were targets of the scheme. In total, the scheme generated at least $7 million in illicit proceeds.
Mafia Members Also to Plead Guilty
The full list of those entering guilty pleas includes:
- Nelson Alvarez
- Louis Apicella
- John Gallo
- Marco Garzon
- Jamie Gilet
- Shane Hennen
- Horatio Hu
- Zhen Hu
- Nicholas Minucci
- Michael Renzulli
- Angelo Ruggiero, Jr.
- Julius Ziliani
In the indictment, prosecutors say Apicella, Gallo, Minucci, and Ruggiero Jr. are all members of the Gambino crime family, while Ziliani is allegedly a member of the Bonanno crime family.
The families agreed to operate the games together, but soon clashed at a New York townhouse over claims one gang was encroaching on the other’s turf.
The charge of wire fraud carries a potential prison sentence of 20 years. Defendants may expect a considerably shorter time behind bars after striking a plea deal with prosecutors.
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A further 12 defendants have requested to change their pleas to guilty in the rigged-poker case connected to an NBA sports-betting scandal. US Attorney Joseph Nocella submitted a letter to the court on Tuesday, indicating that the 12 individuals intend to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud. The defendants also faced charges of
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