In an astonishing turn of events, a high-stakes poker scheme has allegedly defrauded celebrities, professional sports stars, and affluent gamblers out of millions of dollars in a game of Texas Hold 'Em. Unbeknownst to these players, they were being targeted like fish in a barrel by organized crime. The elaborate scheme involved X-ray tables, secret cameras, sophisticated analysers embedded in chip trays, and even high-tech glasses and contact lenses that could read their hands, making it nearly impossible for them to win.
According to prosecutors, these unwitting victims were swindled out of at least $7 million (£5.25 million) in poker games, with one individual reportedly losing as much as $1.8 million (£1.35 million). This operation, described by U.S. prosecutors as reminiscent of a Hollywood heist film, was dismantled during a comprehensive federal investigation that resulted in over 30 arrests, including members of infamous La Cosa Nostra crime families. Notably, among those arrested were NBA figures such as Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones.
FBI Director Kash Patel characterized the operation as a "mind-boggling fraud scheme" that spanned multiple cities, including New York, Miami, and Las Vegas. Arrests related to this underground poker scheme were announced alongside those linked to an alleged basketball betting conspiracy, where professional NBA players are accused of faking injuries to manipulate betting odds.
The underground poker operation reportedly began as early as 2019 and was allegedly orchestrated by members of notorious mafia families, including the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese families. Prosecutors claim that a portion of the profits from these illegal games was used to fund their criminal enterprises.
To lure wealthy victims into these underground poker games, former professional athletes, referred to as "face cards" by prosecutors, were enlisted to entice players with the chance to compete alongside high-profile celebrities like Billups and Jones. Once lured in, these affluent players became victims, or "fish," in the scheme, surrounded by accomplices who were in on the elaborate fraud, from the dealers to the technology used for shuffling and counting chips.
Authorities revealed that advanced technology played a crucial role in deceiving players during the poker games, particularly in Texas Hold 'Em. X-ray tables could read any face-down card, while analysers inside chip trays and rigged shuffling machines predicted the best hands. Additionally, pre-marked cards allowed those wearing specialized sunglasses and contact lenses to determine opponents' hands.
Secret cameras, discreetly hidden in tables and light fixtures, transmitted vital information to those orchestrating the scheme. Communication methods were also sophisticated, with information relayed to an off-site "operator" who would pass it on to a "quarterback" or "driver" at the table. This person would then signal to accomplices, ensuring that victims would consistently lose money.
Authorities estimate that each poker game left victims with losses amounting to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Prosecutors allege that the defendants laundered proceeds from the scheme through cryptocurrency, cash exchanges, and shell companies. A significant portion of the profits reportedly funded the mafia's criminal activities.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia emphasized the scheme's devastating impact across the nation, exploiting the fame of certain individuals while draining the wallets of others to finance Italian crime families. Billups, identified as a "face card" in the rigged games, was arrested in Portland and subsequently placed on leave by the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers released a statement confirming their awareness of the allegations and their cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Damon Jones was also arrested in connection with both the poker scheme and the alleged NBA injuries plot, facing multiple charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. As investigations continue, the ramifications of this high-stakes gambling scandal are likely to unfold, revealing deeper connections within the world of professional sports and organized crime.
