FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday morning announced a sweeping federal investigation alleging at least 31 defendants – including an NBA player and an NBA coach – were involved in illegal gambling schemes.
“You hear a lot about our work of defending the homeland and crushing violent crime. Well,this work is also representative of a colossal portion of the FBI’s mandate to keep America safe and to keep our entertainment industry fair and secure,” Patel said at a press conference in Washington, D.C., announcing the probe.
He and other federal prosecutors said the probe is, in fact, two cases: one related to the NBA and the other to poker games.
Patel and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr. said the overall probe was “year’s-long” and across 11 states.
They also confirmed unconfirmed reports earlier in the morning that Miami Heat player Terri Rozier and Portland Trailblazer coach Chauncey Billups were arrested earlier in the day in connection to the probe.
