Damon Jones pleads guilty in sports betting fraud operation

Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has become the first person to plead guilty in a large-scale sports betting fraud operation that involved the arrest of more than 30 people. The confession took place Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court in Nova York.

Jones, 49, admitted conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Ele agreed to pay $35,000 and faces between 21 and 27 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2027, under the supervision of Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall.

Conspiração with inside information

Durante’s court testimony, Jones acknowledged that he conspired with others to defraud sports betting companies using privileged knowledge gained from his professional basketball relationships. “I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, to my family, to my colleagues and also to Associação Nacional of Basquetebol,” he told the judge.

The conspiracy occurred between December 2022 and March 2024. Segundo the promoters, Jones used non-public information about NBA stars’ injuries to profit from betting. Court documents indicate that he tried to sell injury data for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, stating that the players would not participate or would participate less in certain matches.

Ele acknowledged that his actions violated both the NBA’s code of conduct and the terms of service of the sports betting sites where he operated.

Damon Jones is expected to plead guilty in a sports gambling case tied to a DOJ probe that led to 30+ arrests, per @YahooSports

He was previously accused of profiting from rigged poker games and sharing non-public injury info on LeBron and AD. pic.twitter.com/bIL0xAnVci

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 16, 2026

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Esquemas parallels of fraud

Jones was facing charges in two separate schemes. Além of sports betting fraud, he was accused of profiting from rigged poker games. Neste According to the scheme, prosecutors claim that Jones was one of the former NBA players used to lure unsuspecting bettors into rigged games.

The shuffling machines were tampered with, hidden cameras recorded the cards, and the fraudsters wore special glasses and X-ray equipment built into the tables. Jones received $2,500 per match on Hamptons, where he was instructed to cheat and quit as directed. Quando, when asked about the scheme, responded by message: “You know I know what I’m doing!!”.

Carreira in the NBA and recent involvement

Natural of Galveston, on Texas, Jones has earned over $20 million during his professional career. Jogou for ten teams in eleven seasons, from 1999 to 2009. Dividiu locker room with LeBron James in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008. Durante for the 2022-23 season, served as an unofficial assistant coach for Los Angeles Lakers, James’s team.

Operação wider federal

Jones was arrested in October last year along with other important basketball figures. Entre they are Terry Rozier, former player of Miami Heat, and Chauncey Billups, coach of Portland Trail Blazers and member of Hall of Fama. Sports Apostadores accused of profiting from information about injuries were also arrested.

Pending additional Acusações

On Monday, federal prosecutors announced they are seeking additional charges against Terry Rozier, a co-defendant in the sports betting case. The former player was also arrested last October and remains in legal proceedings. Kenneth Montgomery, Jones’s attorney, declined to comment ahead of Tuesday’s hearings.

The operation represents one of the largest federal actions against betting fraud involving NBA figures. The case exposes vulnerabilities in how privileged information circulates within the league and how former players with access to confidential data can exploit booming betting markets.