• Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier among over 30 individuals charged in a major gambling probe.
• The scandal involves high-tech cheating methods, insider information, and organized crime connections.
• Prosecutors claim that players manipulated performance to benefit illicit betting schemes.

In a major federal investigation, NBA figures including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been charged amid allegations of involvement in illegal sports betting and rigged poker games. Over 30 individuals were indicted in two separate but interconnected cases, with authorities claiming millions were swindled through these operations, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The investigations reveal that the allegations stem from organized crime's involvement in high-stakes gambling and poker games. The operations, linked to several New York Mafia families, reportedly utilized advanced cheating technologies combined with the allure of celebrity participation. Billups and others were touted as "Face Cards," drawing wealthy gamblers to those rigged games, according to India Times and LA Times.

Allegations detail how the poker games utilized sophisticated cheating equipment, including X-ray tables, card-reading glasses, and modified shuffling machines, allowing operators to predict card outcomes and share critical information with participants at the table. This high-tech approach was described as rivaling scenes from popular heist films, highlighting the intricate schemes involved, according to Reuters and LA Times.

Rozier is accused of providing insider information regarding his performance to associates, allowing them to profit from bets contrary to his projected statistics. In particular, he allegedly informed others that he would exit a game early due to an injury, benefitting those placed wagers on such insights, as documented in both the reports by Channel News Asia and India Times.

Prosecutors emphasize the scope of the scandal, calling it one of the most audacious corruption schemes in recent sports history, with payments and betting profits being funneled through organized crime logistics. Billups and Rozier are among the high-profile defendants linked to this far-reaching investigation, which raises significant concerns about the integrity of professional sports involvement in betting practices, according to India Times and Reuters.