Portland makes first % of Billups’ comments after FBI arrest

On Thursday morning, the sports world was shocked when Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier were named in a wide-ranging betting scandal. A federal investigation into illegal sports betting and gambling run by the mob is ongoing, and the two are among those named. Billups was immediately placed on leave after the announcement and will remain on leave while the investigation continues.

The Portland Trail Blazers immediately placed Billups on leave and appointed Tiago Splitter as interim head coach while the investigation was ongoing. In their announcement, the Trail Blazers noted that they fully cooperate with that all further media inquiries should be directed to the NBA.

The statement read: “We are aware of the allegations regarding head coach Chauncey Billups, and the Portland Trail Blazers are cooperating fully with the investigation. Billups has been placed on leave immediately, and Tiago Splitter will take over as head coach in the interim. “Any further questions should be directed to the NBA.”

On Thursday afternoon, the NBA released a statement that Rozier and Billups had been placed on “immediate leave” from the Heat and Trail Blazers.

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments that were announced today,” the league said. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups have been placed on leave from their respective teams immediately, and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

Billups is accused of allegedly participating in illegal poker games run by organized crime. then, Rozier was charged with the same crime and also in relation to sports betting involving current and former NBA players trading inside, non-public information mainly about injuries and illnesses.

Law enforcement officials said the games were staged in 2019 in the Hamptons, Manhattan, Las Vegas and Miami. Profits from the alleged poker scheme reached at least $7 million and counting. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the investigation lasted two years.

When the victims, some of whom lost millions, refused to pay, the mob defendants would resort to violence to force payment, the NYPD said.

“The fraud is staggering,” FBI Director Cash Patel said at a news conference in Brooklyn announcing the charges. “We are talking about tens of millions of dollars in theft, fraud and robbery.

The documents show that Billups allegedly won $50,000 in one poker game. This is a massive investigation that has tentacles everywhere, and it’s only going to continue.