Federal Prosecutors: Damon Jones ‘Converted His Fame’ Into ‘Criminal Betting Operation’

Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today

Former NBA player Damon Jones on Tuesday changed his plea to guilty in an illegal NBA gambling case and an illegal poker case, while according to new court documents alleged fixer Marves Fairley has agreed to plead guilty in two illegal basketball betting cases.

In the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), Jones pled guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy in the wide-reaching NBA scandal case as well as for participating in a high-stakes poker scheme.

“The deendant in this case traded his reputation for greed and fraud,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, said via an EDNY press release. “By exploiting his access to the NBA, and rigging illegal poker games across the country, Damon Jones attempted to orchestrate a scheme that defrauded victims of millions of dollars.”

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. said during oral arguments that “Jones converted his fame and ties to professional basketball into a multi-faceted criminal betting operation. He used private locker
room and medical information from multiple NBA teams to cheat legitimate sportsbooks.”

Jones didn’t just lure poker players in

Jones could face up to 20 years in prison. He initially pleaded not guilty last fall. Jones was indicted in the federal illegal sports betting investigation that also led to the indictment of ex-Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who Monday argued that his case be dismissed hours after federal prosecutors said they were bringing additional charges.

Damon Jones Guilty Pleas Press ReleaseDownload

In the poker case, which also includes Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Jones was known as a “face card,” per the EDNY. In that scheme, professional athletes were used to lure bettors into “underground” games in which “rigged cheating technology” was used. During oral arguments, Jones admitted that he not only encouraged players to the join the game but participated in the games as well.