Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges alleging he profited from rigged poker games and supplied nonpublic injury information to sports bettors.
Jones, 49, entered the plea during back-to-back arraignments in federal court in Brooklyn. He spoke little, and his court-appointed attorney entered not guilty pleas on his behalf in two separate indictments tied to last month’s large-scale federal takedown of alleged gambling operations.
Prosecutors say Jones sold or tried to sell inside information about player injuries and participated in a scheme to rig high-stakes poker games. In one instance, they allege Jones provided a tip that LeBron James would be out of a Feb. 9, 2023, game against the Milwaukee Bucks and encouraged a co-conspirator to place a large bet on Milwaukee before the news was public. James was not on the Lakers’ injury report when the text was sent but was later ruled out and the Lakers lost 115-106, prosecutors said.
In another incident cited by prosecutors, bettor Marves Fairley also pleaded not guilty Thursday. Authorities say Fairley paid Jones about $2,500 on Jan. 15, 2024, for a tip that Anthony Davis would have limited minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fairley then wagered $100,000 on the Thunder; the tip proved incorrect, Davis played normally and posted 27 points and 15 rebounds in a 112-105 Lakers victory. Prosecutors say Fairley sought a refund of the fee.
Jones is charged in both cases with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. He acknowledged in court that he had read the indictments and understood the charges and the terms of his release.
His bail includes a $200,000 bond secured by his mother’s and stepfather’s Texas home, permitting him to remain free while the case proceeds. Travel is limited to parts of Texas and New York City, and he was allowed to retain his passport for identification on flights until he obtains a REAL ID, his lawyer said. Kenneth Montgomery, representing Jones, told the court they may be engaged in plea negotiations. A preliminary conference with other defendants is scheduled for Nov. 24.
Jones was among more than 30 people arrested in the sweep that federal authorities describe as encompassing both reputed organized-crime figures and prominent basketball personalities. Those arrested included Portland Trail Blazers coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Prosecutors say the poker operation used former players to lure unwitting participants into games that were rigged with altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras, specialized eyewear and even table-mounted imaging equipment. Jones allegedly was paid roughly $2,500 to participate in a game in the Hamptons and was instructed to cheat by monitoring co-conspirators and folding when uncertain. Authorities say proceeds from some games were shared with members of the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno crime families, who also allegedly used violence and intimidation to enforce debts and protect the operation.
A native of Galveston, Texas, who played collegiately at the University of Houston, Jones earned more than $20 million over an 11-season NBA career from 1999 to 2009 and spent time as a teammate of LeBron James in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008. After retiring, he worked as a shooting consultant and served on coaching staffs, including an unofficial assistant role with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022–23 season and as an assistant with the Cavaliers during their 2016 championship run.
