NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he profited from rigged poker games and provided sports bettors with non-public information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Jones, a onetime teammate of James, said little during back-to-back arraignments in federal court in Brooklyn, letting his court-appointed lawyer enter not guilty pleas in a pair of cases stemming from last month’s federal takedown of sprawling gambling operations.
Jones, 49, acknowledged he read both indictments and that he understood the charges and his bail conditions, which include his mother and stepfather putting up their Texas home as collateral for a $200,000 bond that will allow him to remain free pending trial.
Jones’ lawyer, Kenneth Montgomery, stated that they may be engaging in plea negotiations and he is due back in court for a preliminary conference with other defendants on November 24.
Jones was among more than 30 people arrested in the gambling sweep. The others included reputed mobsters and prominent basketball figures, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Sports bettor Marves Fairley also pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he cashed in on information about injuries to NBA players, including some that prosecutors say Jones provided to him.
Jones, an NBA journeyman, earned more than $20 million playing for 10 teams in 11 seasons from 1999 to 2009. He and James played together in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and he served as an unofficial assistant coach for James’ Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-2023 season.
Prosecutors allege that Jones sold or attempted to sell non-public information to bettors, claiming that James would not be playing in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jones was known for his shooting skills and also worked as a shooting consultant for the Cavaliers during their 2016 championship run.
In the poker scheme, Jones was allegedly involved in rigged games designed to cheat unwitting players, receiving payment for his part in the operation. The case remains ongoing, with further court dates scheduled.
Jones, a onetime teammate of James, said little during back-to-back arraignments in federal court in Brooklyn, letting his court-appointed lawyer enter not guilty pleas in a pair of cases stemming from last month’s federal takedown of sprawling gambling operations.
Jones, 49, acknowledged he read both indictments and that he understood the charges and his bail conditions, which include his mother and stepfather putting up their Texas home as collateral for a $200,000 bond that will allow him to remain free pending trial.
Jones’ lawyer, Kenneth Montgomery, stated that they may be engaging in plea negotiations and he is due back in court for a preliminary conference with other defendants on November 24.
Jones was among more than 30 people arrested in the gambling sweep. The others included reputed mobsters and prominent basketball figures, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Sports bettor Marves Fairley also pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he cashed in on information about injuries to NBA players, including some that prosecutors say Jones provided to him.
Jones, an NBA journeyman, earned more than $20 million playing for 10 teams in 11 seasons from 1999 to 2009. He and James played together in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and he served as an unofficial assistant coach for James’ Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-2023 season.
Prosecutors allege that Jones sold or attempted to sell non-public information to bettors, claiming that James would not be playing in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jones was known for his shooting skills and also worked as a shooting consultant for the Cavaliers during their 2016 championship run.
In the poker scheme, Jones was allegedly involved in rigged games designed to cheat unwitting players, receiving payment for his part in the operation. The case remains ongoing, with further court dates scheduled.
