Former NBA player Jontay Porter, 24, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a gambling scandal that involved rigging games to clear his own gambling debt. Porter admitted to tipping off gamblers and purposely underperforming in games, earning them $1 million. He appeared before Brooklyn federal Judge James R. Cho and expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging their unlawfulness.
Porter, who played for the Toronto Raptors and their G-League affiliate, confessed to placing bets and collaborating with others to alleviate his mounting gambling debts. Prosecutors have recommended a prison sentence of 41 to 51 months, with his sentencing scheduled for December 18. Porter was released on a $250,000 bond, which was insured by his mother and wife. He is also required to continue receiving gambling counseling.
The former NBA player surrendered to federal authorities after a criminal case was opened against him last week. The case linked him to a betting ring that relied on Porter’s deliberate poor performances. Four gamblers, namely Long Phi Pham, Mahmud Mollah, Timothy McCormack, and Ammar Awawdeh, are facing charges for profiting from bets placed on two games in which Porter intentionally underperformed.
According to federal prosecutors, Porter informed the group at the beginning of the year about his plan to manipulate games, aiming to help them win their bets and settle his debts. The quartet allegedly placed “prop bets” based on Porter’s performance, such as betting on the over and under of specific statistical categories. They received advance information about the games Porter would sabotage through a group chat.
During the Raptors’ game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 26, Porter allegedly informed one of the defendants that he would leave the game early, citing a fake eye injury. He played only four minutes before exiting. A similar incident occurred during the March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings, where Porter claimed he was too sick to continue playing. In both games, Porter’s statistics fell below the expected totals set by gambling books.
On April 4, the same day Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA for betting on games, he texted the group chat, warning them about potential racketeering charges and urging them to erase their phone data. Each defendant placed “under” prop bets on Porter’s performance in those games, knowing in advance that he would not play the full duration.
Prosecutors have stated that the group made over $1 million from their rigged bets, and each defendant is now facing conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges.
The NBA banned Porter after an investigation revealed his manipulation of game outcomes to influence bets and his own participation in betting on NBA games. The league found evidence of at least 13 bets placed by Porter between January and March of this year.
3 Responses
There are a couple of errors in the post:
1. The post states that Jontay Porter is a former NBA player. However, as of my knowledge, Jontay Porter is not a former NBA player. He was drafted by the NBA team, the Denver Nuggets, in 2018 but has not played in any NBA games due to injuries. Therefore, it would be more accurate to refer to him as a professional basketball player rather than a former NBA player.
2. The post mentions
It is truly disheartening to see a talented athlete like Jontay Porter involved in such a scandal. However, this incident highlights the need for better support systems for athletes who may find themselves in financial trouble.
One potential solution could be the establishment of financial literacy programs specifically tailored for professional athletes. These programs could educate players on managing their finances, understanding the risks of gambling, and making informed decisions about their money.
Additionally, sports organizations and leagues should consider implementing stricter regulations and monitoring systems to detect
I found this post about Jontay Porter’s gambling scandal quite intriguing. Can you please expand on the details of how he rigged the games to clear his gambling debt? I’m curious to know more about the methods he used and the impact it had on the games. Thank you!