Damon Jones to plead guilty to providing bettors with inside info
Former NBA participant and coach Damon Jones plans to plead guilty to prices he supplied sports activities bettors with nonpublic details about accidents to stars LeBron James and Anthony DavisABC News reported Thursday, citing a court docket submitting.
Jones’ change-of-plea listening to has not but been scheduled. Jones had pleaded not guilty to the costs in November. He would turn into the primary defendant within the case to plead guilty.
Jones was charged with NBA participant Terry Rozier and others after federal prosecutors accused them of serving to a community of bettors who made wagers primarily based on nonpublic info.
Rozier, who was waived by the Miami Heat Last week, he pleaded not guilty and requested a decide to dismiss his prices. A listening to in his case is scheduled for later this month.
Jones, an NBA journeyman, earned greater than $20 million taking part in for 10 groups in 11 seasons from 1999 to 2009. He and James performed collectively with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008, and Jones served as an unofficial assistant coach for James’ Los Angeles Lakers throughout the 2022-23 season.
According to prosecutors, Jones offered or tried to promote nonpublic info to bettors that James was injured and would not be taking part in in a Feb. 9, 2023, recreation in opposition to the Milwaukee Buckstexting an unnamed co-conspirator: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out.”
James wasn’t listed on the Lakers’ damage report on the time of the textual content message, however the NBA’s profession scoring chief was later dominated out due to a lower-body damage, in accordance to prosecutors, and the Lakers misplaced the sport 115-106.
On Jan. 15, 2024, prosecutors mentioned, sports activities bettor Marves Fairley paid Jones roughly $2,500 for a tip that Davis, the Lakers’ ahead/middle on the time, would see restricted time taking part in in opposition to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to an damage.
Fairley positioned a $100,000 guess on the Thunder to win, prosecutors mentioned, however the tip was improper. Davis performed his standard minutes, scored 27 factors and picked up 15 rebounds in a 112-105 Lakers win, prompting Fairley to demand a refund of his $2,500 charge, prosecutors mentioned.
Jones can also be dealing with prices he profited from rigged poker video games. He has pleaded not guilty to these prices.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
