Jontay Porter, a former NBA player, is now facing felony charges in connection to a gambling scheme that led to his lifetime ban from the league. The charges will be brought against him in a Brooklyn court, according to reports from The Associated Press.
Although the court documents do not specify the exact charges or a court date, it is related to an ongoing prosecution of four individuals who were charged with scheming to profit from insider information provided by a player regarding his plans to leave games early.
Porter was banned for life from the NBA on April 17 after an investigation revealed that he had disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and placed bets on games, which violated league rules. The NBA strictly prohibits players from betting on games within the league or any of its properties.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Porter had disclosed confidential information about his health status to an NBA bettor before a game on March 20. Subsequently, a bet was placed on an online sportsbook that Porter would underperform in the game, with a potential payout of $1.1 million. However, Porter only played three minutes in the game, citing illness, and the $80,000 bet was frozen and not paid out.
Further investigations revealed that Porter had placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s betting account between January and March of this year while he was with the Toronto Raptors or its G League team, Raptors 905. He even placed bets on games in which he did not play, including betting against his own team.
Porter’s lawyer, Jeff Jensen, stated that his client had been struggling with a gambling addiction and was in over his head. However, Porter is now receiving treatment for his addiction and is cooperating with law enforcement.
In addition to Porter, four other individuals were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection to the gambling scheme. The case is still ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings continue.
The NBA’s strict anti-gambling policies are in place to protect the integrity of the game and prevent any potential scandals or manipulation of outcomes. It serves as a reminder to players, both current and former, about the consequences of engaging in illegal gambling activities.
As the case unfolds, it raises questions about the prevalence of gambling addiction among professional athletes and the importance of seeking help and treatment for such issues. It also highlights the need for stricter regulations and monitoring to prevent similar incidents in the future.