Chauncey Billups Indicted in Rigged Poker Probe

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has hired high-profile trial lawyer Marc Mukasey to represent him after federal prosecutors indicted him on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in a sprawling alleged rigged poker operation. Prosecutors allege Billups acted as a 'face card' to attract players to games allegedly rigged with devices such as a shuffling machine and an X‑ray table, and say the multistate probe — which has alleged Mafia links — involves at least $7.15 million in victim losses and individual games that took at least $50,000. Billups is one of more than 30 people arrested in the investigation, which has also included recent arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player/coach Damon Jones. He is scheduled for an initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York on Nov. 6 and is expected to plead not guilty. The Trail Blazers have placed him on administrative leave, and Mukasey, who succeeded Billups’ original attorney Chris Heywood, will lead his defense. Billups has disputed the allegations, and the team and league have said they are cooperating with authorities.