Multiple defendants charged in connection with the mob-linked gambling case that ensnared current and former NBA stars are discussing plea deals with federal prosecutors, according to court documents.
Current and former NBA players, along with a coach, were among nearly three dozen people indicted in connection with two major alleged operations: one involving the rigging of high-stakes poker games allegedly backed by the Mafia, and the other using nonpublic information to place bets on multiple NBA games.
Among the defendants in the cases are members and associates of four major Mafia crime families, as well as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and ex-NBA player Damon Jones.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes, who is presiding over the poker case, that multiple defendants may be discussing possible plea deals.
In the filings, federal prosecutors said, “although it is too early for the government and any of the defendants to engage in substantial plea negotiations, the government and defense counsel for several defendants have begun productive discussions that the government hopes will ultimately lead to resolutions as to several defendants without the need for a trial.”
The documents did not specify which of the 31 charged could be involved in discussions with federal prosecutors out of the Eastern District of New York.
All of the defendants in the case are expected to appear in court next week for a status conference, with Billups scheduled to be arraigned on the same day. Billups' attorney, Marc Mukasey, told NBC News on Friday that his client "will plead not guilty because he is not guilty."
Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges that he profited from the rigged poker games, as well as in the separate case where he is accused of providing sports bettors with inside information.
An attorney for Jones didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Marves Fairley, one of the six men accused of using nonpublic injury and lineup information to place fraudulent wagers, is also “engaged in plea negotiations,” which is believed to result in a “disposition of this case without trial,” according to a court order.
Fairley is accused of using information about Rozier, provided to him by another man charged in the case, to place bets on the insider knowledge that Rozier would exit a March 2023 game early.
Fairley has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Fairley’s attorney denied that discussions were underway and declined to comment further.
In a statement to NBC News, Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, said that they are “certainly entering a plea of not guilty” at his arraignment scheduled for Dec. 8.
Trusty added, “We have no reason to engage in plea discussions.”
None of the documents in either case indicates whether any plea agreements could include cooperation agreements to testify and provide information in the cases.
