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Read Full BioText messages from former NBA player and coach Damon Jones revealed his desperation to be paid for participating in alleged rigged poker games.
The messages suggest Jones was in severe financial difficulty and could explain how he became included in both indictments issued last week. Jones is accused of both feeding insider information about the LA Lakers lineup when working for the team as a coach, as well as participating in rigged poker games.
Prior to one game in East Hampton, New York, Jones sent a message to Robert Stroud (Rob), an organizer of the game. In text messages seen by CasinoBeats, Jones pleaded for a cash advance, writing, “I don’t know how much the job pays tomorrow but can I get a 10k advance on it??”
The player who spent time with 11 different NBA teams between 1999 and 2009 appears to have fallen on hard times. He added, “GOD really blessed me that u have action for me cause I needed it today bad.”
Jones was released following his arrest on the condition that he refrain from gambling. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Plummer asked Magistrate Judge Elyana Youchah to impose the conditions. The prosecutor stated, “We ask that he refrain from gambling, including online games. He has a very serious gambling problem.”
Jones said he could not afford his own attorney and requested a public defender. Federal Public Defender Rohit Rajan represented Jones and did not object to the release conditions.
Since his release, Jones has changed his attorney to Kenneth Montgomery. When contacted by CasinoBeats, he declined to comment on the case.
Jones Coached Up on How to Play Rigged Games
In other texts, Jones is coached on how to play in the games by Tony Goodman, another of those named in the indictment. Goodman, also known as “Tony in Macon,” sent a message to Jones instructing him on when to fold and to be aware of other co-conspirators.
Goodman tells Jones (D) to “watch Ammar he’s the Steph”, in a reference to Steph Curry. Ammar is Ammar Awawdeh, who is named in the indictment as an associate of the Gambino crime family.
Goodman also tells Jones to “watch Marco he’s the Bron (does it all)” in a reference to Jones’ former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Lebron James. Marco is Marco Garzon, another named in the indictment and charged with money laundering, wire fraud, and extortion.
Jones has also been accused of providing information about LeBron’s playing status to aid bettors. When working as a coach for the Lakers, he allegedly sent a message to a gambling syndicate to “get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight” because James was going to be out. Milwaukee beat the Lakers in the February 2023 game, 115-106.
The Lakers coach subsequently sent information to NBA tipster Marves Fairley that Anthony Davis would sit out a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fairley is alleged to have paid Jones, through Earnest, $2,500 for the information.
However, Davis not only played but scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Lakers to victory. Fairley reportedly placed a losing $100,000 bet on the Thunder. After the match, he then demanded that Jones pay back the money. It has not been revealed whether he did or not.
Long History of Gambling
In the texts with others indicted in the case, Jones insisted he knows what he is doing when it comes to playing poker. He replied to the message sent by “Tony in Macon” by stating, “y’all call Djones in cause y’all know I know what I’m doing!!”. In the message, he also references Gilbert Arenas, who has denied being part of the scandal.
Jones appears to have a long history of gambling. Following his arrest, a video emerged of Arenas discussing gambling with Jones during a 2006 series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Arenas’ Washington Wizards.
Arenas said the opposing players had no qualms about socializing together off the court and were even gambling at LeBron’s house between games. Arenas stated, “We’re gambling during the series. Not LeBron, but me, Damon Jones, Larry Hughes, we’re at LeBron’s place, we’re gambling. We’re there three, four, five days during the series.”
Chauncey Billups Made to Look Complicit
In other text messages shared by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, Chauncey Billups appears to have been complicit in the rigged poker games. Like Jones, Billups was arrested and charged with wire fraud and money laundering last week.
There could be an argument that he was merely a “face card” at the games, used to lure in victims, but unaware that the games were rigged. However, messages between other defendants, Sophia Wei and Robert Stroud, appear to incriminate the Portland Trail Blazers coach.
In the messages, “Sophie in New York” (Sophia Wei) can be seen telling Stroud that, “they already know all the signals.” They, in this case, are Billups and fellow defendant Eric Earnest (Spook).
The messages suggest that Billups intentionally loses some hands to other players so the games appear legitimate. Documents from the Attorney’s Office also show that Sophia Wei transferred $50,000 to Billups for participating in one of the games.
Billups’ Lawyer Denies Charges
Billups, whose $4.7 million a year contract as coach of the Trail Blazers has been suspended, denied any wrongdoing. After his arrest, his lawyer, Chris Heywood, stated, “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game.”
It is hard to believe that Billups would risk all that he has earned (over $100 million in his NBA career) to participate in rigged poker games organized by the Mafia for around $50,000. However, a UCLA psychologist claims that money may not be the only motivating factor behind sports stars getting involved in criminal activity.
Dr. Timothy Wong stated, “I think oftentimes when people are like, ‘Well, why would anyone do this?’ I say, ‘Well, why wouldn’t someone do it?’ Because they’re surrounded by availability, access, culture, and things that get them excited.”
Heywood insists that Billups is innocent and added, “Chauncey Billups has never backed down. He does not plan to do so now. He will fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career. We look forward to our day in court.”
