Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones became the first fo 30 charged with gambling and fraud to plead guilty to two federal counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud to satisfy multiple charges related to gambling and rigging poker games. Each cases was in different court with their own judges.
Jones aloccuted in both pleas, telling one court he used "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player," apologizing to the court, his family and the National Basketball Association, admitting he knew he was violating league rules.
In the rigged poker-game case, he told the court he knew the games were rigged and that people were being defrauded. Jones said he was present and an active participant in the scheme as a "face card," using his name and celebrity to lure poker players to the rigged games.
Jones agreed Tuesday to make restitution of $73,000. He will be sentenced by each court on January 6. He faces 63 to 78 months in prison, with prosecutors agreeing to reduce the total sentences 15 months total in exchange for his guilty plea.
This news comes just one day after federal prosecutors announced additional charges are coming for former NBA player Terry Rozier for accepting bribes related to gambling on his performances.
My take: Jones has got nothing to lose, so there's nobody to protect. The first domino has fallen.
THE ASYLUM
Jones pleads guilty to gambling
Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones became the first fo 30 charged with gambling and fraud to plead guilty to two federal counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud to satisfy multiple charges related to gambling and rigging poker games. Each cases was in different court with their own judges.
Jones aloccuted in both pleas, telling one court he used "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player," apologizing to the court, his family and the National Basketball Association, admitting he knew he was violating league rules.
In the rigged poker-game case, he told the court he knew the games were rigged and that people were being defrauded. Jones said he was present and an active participant in the scheme as a "face card," using his name and celebrity to lure poker players to the rigged games.
Jones agreed Tuesday to make restitution of $73,000. He will be sentenced by each court on January 6. He faces 63 to 78 months in prison, with prosecutors agreeing to reduce the total sentences 15 months total in exchange for his guilty plea.
This news comes just one day after federal prosecutors announced additional charges are coming for former NBA player Terry Rozier for accepting bribes related to gambling on his performances.
My take: Jones has got nothing to lose, so there's nobody to protect. The first domino has fallen.
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