Multiple NBA stars arrested in FBI crackdown on mafia-linked illegal gambling ring

Kash Patel has revealed that multiple high-profile NBA players have been arrested in connection with an extensive illegal gambling ring that operated for several years.

Over 30 individuals, including current and former NBA stars, were taken into custody as part of the crackdown. Authorities also arrested suspected members of the American faction of the Sicilian Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra.

Patel stated that the FBI had “entered and executed justice” against several notorious crime families involved in the operation, including the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families.

Operation Zhen Diagram: Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Gambling

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA guard and coach Damon Jones were among 34 individuals arrested on Thursday as part of a widespread FBI investigation into illegal gambling linked to La Cosa Nostra crime families, Fox News Digital confirmed.

FBI Director Kash Patel praised the operation, stating, “Day in and day out, this FBI is following the money — and today is the result of that outstanding work. This operation involved an expansive effort across 11 states arresting 34 subjects, including multiple NBA players and coaches, who allegedly took advantage of their own positions of power to rig gambling systems for their own benefit — eventually funneling money to La Cosa Nostra, enriching some of the most notorious criminal networks in the world. That ends today — and the FBI’s efforts to make sure gambling operations of all kinds stay within the law are only beginning."

Officials revealed the indictments involved sports betting and illegal gambling activities including rigged poker games, which featured cheating devices such as rigged shuffling machines. Rozier’s arrest was related to NBA gambling, while Billups was linked to the poker operations.

Rozier did not play during Miami Heat’s game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, and Billups was present on the Trail Blazers’ sidelines against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Zhen Diagram, uncovered a nationwide gambling ring where members of the La Cosa Nostra allegedly defrauded victims of millions. Authorities said the proceeds were laundered, sometimes converted into cryptocurrency to evade detection.

A confidential source recorded more than 3,000 phone calls and meetings with those involved, and even introduced undercover agents to rigged poker games.

Additional Investigations and Legal Responses

The operation coincided with another probe, Nothing But Bet, targeting fixed NCAA basketball games, which also involved current and former NBA players.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella, remarked, “Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out. Violating the law is a losing proposition and you can bet on that.”

Rozier allegedly participated in a scheme to manipulate statistics to allow co-conspirators to profit from prop bets. Jones, formerly an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, was accused of providing inside information not available to the public.

Billups was linked to the rigged poker games and his ties to La Cosa Nostra.

In response to Rozier’s arrest, his lawyer, James Trusty, stated, “We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year. A long time ago we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel.

“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self-surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly incredible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”