NBA Veteran Damon Jones Set to Plead Guilty in Gambling Scheme as Hearings Loom for April 28

NBA veteran Damon Jones is set to plead guilty in a federal gambling investigation, with change-of-plea hearings scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn federal court for both rigged poker and sports betting charges.

Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones faces change-of-plea hearings on April 28 in Brooklyn federal court for charges related to both rigged poker games and sports betting schemes. Jones is expected to become the first individual to plead guilty in a wide-ranging federal investigation that has led to over 30 arrests, including other basketball figures and reputed organized crime members. He previously pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with both cases.

Prosecutors allege Jones provided a sports bettor with nonpublic information regarding player injuries. In one instance, a bettor paid Jones approximately $2,500 for a tip claiming Anthony Davis would have limited playing time due to injury. The bettor then placed a $100,000 wager on the opposing team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the information proved incorrect as Davis played his normal minutes, scoring 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a 112-105 Lakers victory.

Jones was also charged in a separate scheme involving rigged high-stakes poker games. Here, prosecutors claim Jones was among former NBA players used to attract participants to games manipulated with hidden cameras, altered shuffling machines, and specialized equipment. He received $2,500 for his participation in one such game held in the Hamptons. Despite these pending pleas, Jones's legal representation confirmed he is not cooperating with authorities in the broader investigation.

Jones's anticipated guilty plea marks a significant step in the federal government's ongoing effort to address illegal gambling operations with ties to professional sports. The charges highlight the alleged methods used in these schemes, from selling purported inside information on player health to directly manipulating the outcomes of private poker games. These operations also reveal alleged connections to organized crime, which reportedly benefited from a portion of the proceeds and used violence to enforce debts.

All eyes will be on the April 28 hearings as Jones's pleas unfold. The outcome could signal further developments in the broader investigation, potentially impacting other individuals implicated in the extensive gambling sweep.