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NEW YORK -- Portland Trail Blazers coach and basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving several Mafia figures and at least one other former NBA player. The five-time All-Star, who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, was arraigned in a federal court in New York City on money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges, both of which carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. Some of Billups' co-defendants are also charged with running an illegal gambling business and engaging in an extortion conspiracy. Billups wore a dark gray suit during Monday's brief arraignment and spoke only to answer the judge's yes or no questions. At a bond hearing later Monday morning, the judge released Billups on a $5 million bond. The NBA Hall of Famer used his home in Colorado as collateral and his daughter Cydney, the manager of team and player services for the Minnesota Timberwolves, cosigned his bond. He and his attorney Marc Mukasey declined comment as they left the courthouse. Billups was arguably the most prominent name among more than 30 charged in last month's sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports. The other defendants were also expected to appear in the Brooklyn court for Monday's proceedings. Prosecutors say the 49-year-old Denver native, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame last year, was involved in a scheme to rig Mafia-backed illegal poker games in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons. Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also nabbed in that alleged scheme, which prosecutors say utilized a range of sophisticated technology that allowed the gambling to be rigged, such as altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras in poker chip trays, special sunglasses and even X-ray equipment built into the table to read cards. Jones was also charged along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier in a separate scheme at the same time that allowed gamblers to exploit insider information about players to win bets on NBA games. Prosecutors say the poker scheme Billups was involved in defrauded victims of an estimated $7 million starting in at least 2019. They say he served as a celebrity "face card" who could draw wealthy, unsuspecting players to the games. Prosecutors said during one game, the scheme's organizers exchanged messages saying one of the victims "acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money" because he was "starstruck." Prosecutors say Billups, who earned about $106 million from his playing days, received a portion of the ill-gotten gains. After one rigged game in October 2020, for example, they say he was directly wired $50,000. The scheme organizers also had to share a portion of their proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno mob families for operating within the illegal poker games run by the New York criminal enterprises, prosecutors said. Mafia members, in turn, helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, they said. Billups was selected as the third pick in the 1997 draft by the Boston Celtics after starring in college for the Colorado Buffaloes. He played 17 years in the NBA, with stints with the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers. But he is perhaps most beloved in the Motor City, where he earned the nickname Mr. Big Shot for his knack for making clutch shots. Billups was named the NBA Finals MVP during the Pistons' title run in 2004 and had his No. 1 jersey retired by the team. After retiring in 2014, Billups embarked on a career as a TV analyst before pivoting to coaching. He was hired as Portland's coach in 2021 and signed a multiyear extension with the Trail Blazers earlier this year after the team missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season in 2024. Billups previously served as an assistant coach on the Los Angeles Clippers. After his arrest, he was placed on unpaid leave and the Trail Blazers named assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter as interim coach. As part of his bond agreement, Billups is allowed to travel to select states but had to hand in his passport. All 31 defendants in the gambling cases are due back in court on March 4 for a case status update. U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes said he hoped to start the trial in September 2026. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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