• Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty in a federal court regarding a rigged poker games case.
• The case involves allegations of cheating using high-tech equipment and organized crime figures.
• Prosecutors claim the scheme defrauded victims of over $7 million, dating back to 2019.
• Billups and co-defendants, including former players, face serious federal charges including wire fraud.
• The court is expected to bring the sprawling case to trial by September 2026.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn federal court on Monday to several charges including conspiracy for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a mafia-linked poker operation. This sweeping criminal case involves Billups and over 30 other defendants, including former NBA player Damon Jones, who are accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme to defraud victims using high-tech cheating methods, according to Reuters and SCMP.

During his arraignment, Billups, 49, appeared in a ceremonial courtroom with approximately 30 other defendants facing serious allegations related to illegal gambling activities. Prosecutors claims suggest that Billups acted as a "face card" to attract victims to rigged games, alleging that the cheating scheme defrauded victims of at least $7 million over several years, according to CBS News and BBC.

The serious nature of the charges comes amid a broader investigation into illegal betting involving multiple sports personalities and organized crime families. Billups's case is part of a federal crackdown that unveiled a complex web linking sports figures to illegal gambling, with significant implications for the involved parties, according to NPR and The Hill.

As the case progresses, plea negotiations are reportedly in initial stages. Although no formal deals have been made public, Billups has been released on a $5 million bond and is subject to travel restrictions and other conditions set by the court. The trial is tentatively scheduled for September 2026, indicating a lengthy process ahead for all involved, according to CBS News, BBC, and NPR.