Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter will be charged with federal crimes connected to a sports betting scandal that led to his lifetime ban from the NBA, court papers confirmed.
The Brooklyn federal prosecutor’s office filed what’s known as a criminal information sheet on Tuesday. The document does not specify a court date or the crimes he is charged with, but it does show that the case is related to the prosecution of four men accused of a scheme to profit from information about his intention to leave two games.
The Associated Press sent voicemails and emails Wednesday to Jeff Jensen, Porter’s St. Louis attorney. He confirmed last month that Porter was “up to his neck in a gambling addiction” but was receiving treatment and cooperating with authorities.
Brooklyn District Attorney Breon Peace’s office declined to comment.
In April, an NBA investigation found that Porter had given bettors information about his health and then used an illness to leave before a game, leading to profits for anyone who bet that his performance would be below expectations. Porter also bet on NBA games in which he did not play and even bet on his team, the league confirmed.
The four men charged last month appeared before a judge. They are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and are on probation.
The complaint accuses the four — Ammar Awawdeh, Timothy McCormack and Mahmud Mollah Long Phi Pham — of knowing about an NBA player’s scheme to have them or their family members place lucrative bets on Jan. 26 and March 20.
The complaint identifies the athlete as “Player 1,” but the details — including quotes from the NBA statement — are consistent with those in the NBA’s investigation.
Porter played a few minutes between January 26 and March 20 before leaving the court after complaining of injury or illness.
2024-07-03 21:22:35
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