Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones Thursday pleaded not guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and two counts of money laundering in the federal illegal sports betting investigation that also led to the indictment of ex-Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Earlier in the day, also at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York court building in Brooklyn, Jones pleaded not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges for his alleged part in luring high-dollar poker players to games supposedly rigged by members of the Mafia.
According to ESPN, prosecutors revealed in the proceedings that Jones, who secured his release on $200,000 bond by using his parents’ Houston home as collateral, was in discussions to secure a plea deal in the sports betting case.
Jones, with co-defendants Eric Earnest, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen, DeNiro Laster, and Rozier, according to charging documents, “participated in a scheme to defraud the Betting Companies by providing, obtaining and using non-public information relating to NBA games to place and cause others to place fraudulent sports wagers for profit, and to launder the proceeds thereof.”
Jones was arrested in Las Vegas on Oct. 23, the day the indictments were unsealed. He could face up to 10-20 years in prison.
‘Player 3’ (LeBron James) key charges
According to prosecutors, Jones, who was an unofficial Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach in the 2022-23 season, used his relationship with a “Player 3” matching the description of LeBron James to acquire and peddle non-public information he sold to his co-conspirators. James is not part of the investigation. On Feb. 9, 2023, Jones allegedly learned that James would rest against the Milwaukee Bucks that night and passed that information to gamblers before it was published on an NBA injury report. Jones allegedly texted: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat to [sic] now!!!”
James was the Lakers’ only rostered player not to dress and the Lakers lost, 115-106. Jones refused to answer when asked about his relationship with James as he entered the courthouse.
Other developments Thursday:
- Fairley was arraigned in the NBA illegal betting case and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
- Alleged Gambino crime family associate Anthony Ruggiero, Jr.’s application to be released on a $5 million bond in the rigged poker games case was denied by U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes.
Rozier is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 8.
