How Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones were allegedly used to coerce victims into illegal poker games

Portland Trail Blazers HC Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier were arrested by the FBI in an illegal gambling probe. Colin Cowherd reacts to the news and discusses what it means for the Trail Blazers.

NEW YORK – Former NBA players Chauncey Billups — currently the Portland Trail Blazers' head coach — and Damon Jones were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit both wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly participating in rigged poker games.

Billups and Jones were allegedly dubbed as "face cards" which, the indictment says, were "members of the Cheating Teams and received a portion of the criminal proceeds in exchange for their participation in the scheme." The scheme resulted in the victims losing at least $7.15 million, dating back to April 2019, according to the Department of Justice.

"Billups and Jones, in particular… were utilized to attract victims to the games because of their status as former professional athletes," the DOJ said.

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Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones were arrested on Thursday in connection with an illegal poker scheme. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images; Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The DOJ added that in April 2019, Billups was one of five defendants who "organized and participated in rigged poker games" in Las Vegas "using a rigged shuffling machine" with the victims losing at least $50,000. One of the defendants texted another co-conspirator that Billups should purposefully lose a hand to avoid cheating suspicions.

During that game, a defendant said one of the victims had "acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money" because he was "star struck" by Billups, according to officials.

In October 2020, Billups was