FBI announces NBA arrests in Mafia-linked gambling, sports rigging probes

Legal & Regulatory - FBI director announced an insider trading saga related to NBA sports gambling, naming six defendants [1] - Investigation links to the previous ban of Raptors player Dante Porter for life due to felony charges [3] - 34 individuals are charged with a range of offenses including extortion, money laundering, wire fraud, bank fraud, and illegal gambling [5] Key Individuals & Teams Involved - Miami Heat's Terry Rosier and former Cavaliers player/assistant coach Damon Jones are named as defendants [1] - Terry Rosier allegedly shared information about leaving a game early on March 23rd, 2023, leading to $200,000 in wagers against his statistics [2] - Chanty Bilips (Trailblazers coach) and Terry Rosier are implicated in an underground illegal poker ring [3] Gambling & Financial Aspects - Illegal betting occurred between 2022 and 2024, involving game throwing or misuse of insider information [1] - Bettors profited tens of thousands of dollars from Rosier's insider information [3] - An illegal poker ring, associated with organized crime families, allegedly used celebrity athletes to lure gamblers, resulting in one victim losing $1.8 million and the ring generating tens of millions in total [4][5] - Sports books are considered victims, not perpetrators, in this situation [6] Organized Crime Involvement - Organized crime families associated with Lacosa Nostra were involved in the illegal poker ring [4] - The mafia allegedly modified card shuffling machines, barcoded decks, and used hidden cameras to cheat gamblers [4] - Threats of violence were used against those who refused to pay gambling debts [5]