Billups’ role in the scandal
According to The Hendon Mob, Berkey has won more than $4.7 million playing poker.
During a 2023 episode of the “Only Friends” podcast, Berkey called out Billups, whose star power was used to attract players, and the events that were being hosted.
“It obviously was like, for sure confirmed to be cheating,” Berkey claimed on the podcast. “Like, people who clearly didn’t even understand the rules of no-limit hold ‘em are just jamming hundreds of big blinds in with a gutty and just drilling it. And like, only the pros are losing?
“It was basically confirmed amongst all the pros that there was cheating, but there was just no recourse,” he added.
Billups, former NBA assistant coach Damon Jones, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were all arrested on Thursday morning as part of an FBI investigation. However, the accusations against Billups were more damning.
According to investigators, the 2004 Finals MVP helped La Cosa Nostra host rigged poker games using special glasses lenses, x-ray tables, and marked cards to defraud participants of $7 million. Individuals from the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families were all alleged to be involved.
Billups also allegedly dabbled in illegal sports betting, having shared with a known sports bettor privileged details that a Trail Blazers player—presumably Damian Lillard—would miss a March 2023 contest before that information was made public.
“It’s tough too whenever you’re dealing with somebody high-profile like that because they carry a lot of weight and hold a lot of power,” Berkey said on the podcast.
Investigations continue
Billups, 49, was released on bond on Thursday. The NBA placed him on “immediate leave” from the team as the legal process continues.
“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the league said in a statement.
According to Homeland Security Investigations, the mafia organized the games, took a cut of the winnings, and handled debt collection.
Profits from the game were laundered using cryptocurrency, shell companies, and cash transactions. Other individuals implicated in the scandal were hit with charges of robbery and extortion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had not been informed of plans to carry out the arrests. Notably, the NBA had already investigated and cleared Rozier of wrongdoing.
“My initial reaction was I was deeply disturbed," Silver said in an interview during an NBA on Amazon Prime broadcast of a matchup between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics on Oct. 24. "There’s nothing more important to the league and the fans than the integrity of the competition. So, I had a pit in my stomach, it was very upsetting.”
