Former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded not guilty to charges claiming he profited from rigged poker games and shared confidential information to aid sports bettors.
Jones, who spent 11 seasons in the NBA, including four alongside LeBron James, is accused of providing nonpublic details about James and Anthony Davis that allegedly allowed bettors to profit. Over his career, Jones earned more than $20 million. His mother and stepfather are posting their Texas home as collateral for a $200,000 bond, allowing him to remain free while awaiting trial.
Jones’s attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, told the court that plea negotiations may be underway. Jones is scheduled to return to court Nov. 24 for a preliminary conference with other defendants. He was among more than 30 people arrested in the sweep targeting alleged gambling misconduct, which also included Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Prosecutors allege Jones sold or attempted to sell insider information, including a Feb. 9, 2023, tip that James would miss a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jones allegedly texted an unnamed co-conspirator: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out.” James wasn’t listed on the Lakers’ injury report at the time but was later ruled out due to a lower-body injury; the Lakers lost 115-106.
In the poker scheme, prosecutors say Jones helped recruit unsuspecting players into games rigged with manipulated shuffling machines, hidden cameras, specialized sunglasses, and even X-ray-equipped tables. The indictment notes Jones received $2,500 for a game in the Hamptons, where he was directed to cheat by observing other participants closely.
Anthony Ruggiero Jr., an alleged Gambino crime family member, was denied release on a $5 million bond in connection with the rigged poker case by U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes.
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