Gambling scheme involving former Raptors triggers criminal investigation

A Brooklyn man has been charged with involvement in an alleged illegal sports betting scheme involving former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA earlier this year.

Porter is not named in the complaint, but the description of the so-called “Player 1” describes only Porter, who is said to have accumulated significant gambling debts along with his co-conspirators.

The 24-year-old, who previously had a two-way contract with Toronto, was encouraged to negatively impact his performance and withdraw from two games to pay off his debt.

Porter played on Jan. 26 before withdrawing due to an eye injury that was not previously listed on Toronto’s injury report.

The scheme ended with Brooklyn man Long Phi “Bruce” Pham winning $40,250, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Pham had bet that Porter’s “prop” bets would fall short of his expected statistical milestones for the game.

On March 20, Porter again left a game early, citing illness, after he and the alleged co-conspirators discussed another gambling scheme via Telegram, according to the criminal complaint.

“They agreed to share the winnings from successful underbets on Player 1, and that Pham would receive approximately 24% of the winnings,” the Justice Department said. “Several bettors, including the co-conspirators who placed underbets on the special bets on Player 1’s performance, won those bets. In total, the defendant and his co-conspirators realized net profits of over $1 million.”

The NBA began its investigation into Porter when bookmakers informed the league that an unusually high number of bets had been placed on Porter not reaching his statistical milestones.

After the League announced its findings, Porter reportedly told co-conspirators in a group chat that they “might get caught red-handed” (referring to an organized crime charge) and asked if the group chat participants had deleted “all that stuff” from their personal cell phones.

“Whether on the court or in the casino, every point counts. As alleged, the defendant and his co-conspirators, as well as an NBA player, engaged in a brazen, illegal betting scheme that corrupted two games and numerous bets,” said U.S. Attorney Peace. “This indictment serves as a warning that cheating and dishonesty will not be tolerated in professional sports and that those who engage in this blatant disregard for the law will be prosecuted.”

It is unclear whether the Justice Department is investigating Porter.