Ex-NBA player Damon Jones expected to plead guilty in gambling sweep

Key Points:

• Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is set to become the first to plead guilty in a gambling investigation involving over 30 arrests, including reputed mobsters and basketball figures, with a plea hearing scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn federal court.
• Jones faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy related to profiting from rigged poker games and selling non-public injury information about stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis to sports bettors.
• Prosecutors allege Jones provided inside injury information that influenced large bets, including a Feb. 2023 game where James was ruled out after Jones tipped off bettors, and a Jan. 2024 incident where a tip about Davis' limited playtime led to a failed bet.
• The rigged poker scheme involved former NBA players and used altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras, and other cheating devices, with proceeds shared among New York crime families including Gambino, Genovese, and Bonnano, who also engaged in violent enforcement actions.
• Jones, who earned over $20 million during his NBA career and served as a shooting consultant and assistant coach for LeBron James' teams, remains free on bail while cooperating with authorities amid ongoing investigations.