Damon Jones guilty plea expected in wide-ranging federal gambling sweep
Damon Jones is expected to plead guilty in a federal gambling sweep tied to rigged poker games and alleged sales of non-public NBA injury information to bettors.
Damon Jones guilty plea is expected to be entered at a Brooklyn federal court hearing on April 28 as part of a sweeping investigation that has resulted in more than 30 arrests, prosecutors said. The former NBA player faces charges in two separate indictments that allege his involvement in both a rigged poker operation and a scheme to sell inside information to sports bettors. Jones, 49, has been free on bail while the cases move through the court system.
Change-of-Plea Hearing Set for April 28
A court filing on Thursday moved Jones’s previously scheduled arraignment to an earlier change-of-plea hearing on April 28 in Brooklyn federal court. The date had originally been set for May 6 before the parties requested the adjustment, according to court documents.
Jones’s counsel, Kenneth Montgomery, had indicated at an earlier arraignment that the defense and prosecutors “may be engaging in plea negotiations.” A message seeking comment was left for Montgomery, and the court filing remains the definitive schedule until any further orders.
Dual Indictments Allege Wire Fraud and Money Laundering
Federal prosecutors have charged Jones in two separate indictments that together accuse him of wire fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy. He is one of three individuals named in both the poker and sports-betting cases, according to the indictments.
Those charges carry penalties tied to schemes that allegedly generated illicit proceeds through manipulation and deception. Prosecutors have described the cases as intertwined components of a broader criminal enterprise targeting both illegal gaming and insider-information markets.
Alleged Sale of Non-Public Injury Information
Prosecutors say Jones sold or attempted to sell tips about player injuries, including information involving LeBron James and Anthony Davis, to sports bettors. In one alleged exchange, Jones is accused of texting an unnamed co-conspirator: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out,” referring to a February 9, 2023 game in which James was later ruled out.
Officials say James was not listed on the team’s injury report at the time of the message but was subsequently ruled out and the Lakers lost that game. Prosecutors also allege a January 15, 2024 tip about Davis prompted a bettor to place a $100,000 wager after paying Jones roughly $2,500 for the information, a tip they say proved incorrect when Davis played his usual minutes.
Rigged Poker Operation and Modus Operandi
The poker case accuses Jones of participating in games allegedly engineered to advantage certain players through technological and human manipulation. Prosecutors allege the scheme used altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras, special eyewear and even embedded table equipment to reveal opponents’ cards.
Court documents say Jones was paid approximately $2,500 for a single game in the Hamptons and was instructed by co-conspirators to pay close attention to other players involved in the operation. Prosecutors allege he received coaching on when to fold and was told to observe those participants as if they were high-profile NBA figures.
Links to Organized Crime and Violence Allegations
The indictment links the illegal poker games to established New York crime families, including the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno organizations, prosecutors said. Those families are accused of taking a share of proceeds from the illicit games and of using violence, extortion and robbery to enforce debts and protect the operation.
Officials allege members of the crime families engaged in violent acts to ensure repayment and the continued success of the scheme, tying the gambling enterprise to broader organized-crime activity. Prosecutors have emphasized the criminal network’s role in both financial management and coercive enforcement.
Jones’s NBA Career and Recent Roles
A native of Galveston, Texas, Jones played 11 NBA seasons from 1999 to 2009 and earned more than $20 million during his career, according to records cited in court filings. He was a teammate of LeBron James in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and later worked as a shooting consultant for the Cavaliers.
Jones also served in coaching and advisory roles, including a stint as an unofficial assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season and as an assistant on Cleveland’s 2016 championship staff. Prosecutors have cited his access to players and teams as central to allegations that he trafficked in non-public injury information.
Court Status and Next Steps
Jones remains free on bail as the legal process continues and the scheduled April 28 change-of-plea hearing approaches. If he enters a guilty plea, the terms and any potential cooperation agreements will be disclosed through court filings and proceedings that could affect other defendants in the sweep.
Beyond Jones, the investigation has ensnared a number of former and current basketball figures as well as reputed mobsters, and prosecutors have said further legal steps will follow as trials, pleas or additional charges are resolved. The Brooklyn federal docket will provide the authoritative timeline for any subsequent hearings or sentencing dates.
The case highlights how alleged sports-betting fraud and illegal gaming can intersect with organised-crime networks, and it will proceed through federal court where prosecutors must prove the charges or reach negotiated resolutions with defendants.