Ex-NBA star Damon Jones to plead guilty in sports-betting case, court filing shows

Former Cleveland Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones is expected to enter a guilty plea in his sports-betting case, according to a court filing Thursday.

Jones was arrested in a blockbuster pair of indictments in Brooklyn Federal Court in October that also netted two more NBA stars and 31 other suspects. He’s accused of leaking inside information to bettors before NBA games, and taking part in a Mafia-connected conspiracy to lure high rollers into a rigged poker game.

The other NBA stars indicted include Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.

On Thursday, a docket entry in the bet-rigging case revealed Jones is ready to take a deal: “Defendant Jones’s change of plea is respectfully REFERRED to Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo,” the docket entry reads. It’s unclear if Jones is making a similar change of plea in the poker case.

Jones’ lawyer, Kenneth Montgomery, did not immediately return a call seeking comment, and a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella declined comment Thursday.

Jones and Rozier have been linked to bet rigging in seven pro games in 2023 and 2024.

Jones, an unofficial assistant coach for the Lakers in 2022 and 2023, used his position to leak info about a Feb. 9, 2023, game against the Milwaukee Bucks, texting a conspirator, “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat to [sic] now!!!”, according to the feds.