Prosecutors Got A Guilty Plea In The NBA Gambling Case

Jones pleaded guilty Tuesday in a New York City federal courthouse to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. One count was connected to bets made with online sports books using information about NBA players and their likelihood to not play provided by Jones; the second was connected to Jones's role in helping attract dumb money to rigged poker games. According to the prosecution, Jones was one of the people used as face cards to lure fish—weaker or inexperienced poker players—into attending these games, which also were connected to several organized crime families. As for the sports betting, prosecutors said that Jones was among several people who passed along non-public information related to NBA games to help other people place bets. (The government has brought similar charges against Terry Rozier relating to his time with the Charlotte Hornets.) In return for the information, someone like Jones would get a flat fee or a share of the profits. Jones did this multiple times during the 2022–2023 and 2023-2024 NBA seasons. (Jones worked as an assistant coach for the Lakers during 2022 and 2023.)