(AsiaGameHub) –   Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is the first person in an ongoing gambling conspiracy probe to plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud connected to insider sports betting and rigged poker game schemes.

Jones Acknowledges Guilt

After entering his guilty plea in the sports betting case, Jones read a pre-prepared statement to the court, admitting that he conspired with other people to defraud betting companies by using insider information gained through his professional connections as a former player. He said he wanted to extend a sincere apology to the court, his family, his peers, and the National Basketball Association.

A native of Galveston, Texas, Jones earned more than $20 million across an 11-year playing career from 1999 to 2009, competing for 10 different teams. He was teammates with LeBron James in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and later worked as an unofficial assistant coach for James’ Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022–2023 season.

Jones’ guilty admission is not a surprise, as he announced a couple of weeks prior that he would change his plea from “innocent” to “guilty.” He admitted his actions violated both the NBA’s code of conduct and the terms of service of sports betting platforms. Jones also explained that the conspiracy, which operated from December 2022 to March 2024, aimed to profit off sportsbooks by leveraging private insider knowledge. According to prosecutors, this information included nonpublic details about injuries to star NBA players.

What Role Did Jones Play in the Two Schemes?

At his second hearing, Jones acknowledged he was paid to act as a “face card” for poker games in Miami and the Hamptons, using his NBA celebrity status to draw high-stakes bettors to the table. Per his statement, Jones said that based on conversations with his co-conspirators before and after the games, he knew the games were rigged and other participants were being cheated.

According to the official indictment, in one instance, Jones received $2,500 for joining a game in the Hamptons, where he was instructed to help cheat by closely monitoring other people involved in the scheme. Prosecutors said he was told to fold his hand any time he was uncertain about the play.

Prosecutors confirm they are pursuing additional charges against a co-defendant in the sports betting case, former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who has pleaded not guilty. Jones was arrested last October alongside Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Fame star Chauncey Billups, and multiple other people, including a bettor accused of profiting from private injury-related information. Jones was one of three individuals charged in both the poker and sports betting schemes.

Currently, Jones remains free on bail, and he is not scheduled to be sentenced until January 6, 2027. He is expected to face a longer prison term for the rigged poker case than for the sports betting case. For the sports betting charge, he is projected to receive a sentence of 21 to 27 months.