FBI Director reveals Billups, Rozier arrested in gambling investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel details investigation which has lead to the arrest of over 30 people in relation to an illegal gambling scheme.
A Thunder-Lakers game — and a bad $100,000 bet — is part of the NBA gambling investigation that resulted in federal conspiracy indictments in New York.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-105 on Jan. 15, 2024.
A grand jury alleged in one indictment that defendant Marves Fairley placed a $100,000 bet against the Lakers after getting inside information that “one of the Lakers’ best players” was injured.
“Ultimately, Player 4 played in the January 15 Game in line with his season average in minutes and performed well, and the Lakers won the game,” the grand jury reported.
According to the indictment, Player 4 had been listed hours before the game as “probable.” Anthony Davis was the only Laker listed as probable for that game. He ended up scoring a game-high 27 points in 38 minutes.
Providing the information was another defendant, Damon Jones, grand jurors alleged.
Jones, a former NBA player, had learned from a trainer that Player 4 was only going to play limited minutes because of the injury “and/or his performance would likely be affected in the game,” according to the indictment.
Jones, who was arrested Oct. 23, was allegedly paid $2,500, through an intermediary, for the information. Fairley asked after the game for a refund of the “fee” but Jones responded that his information had been credible, according to the indictment.
Grand jurors alleged that the Thunder-Lakers game was one of multiple occasions during the 2023-24 NBA season that Jones and another defendant sold or attempted to sell non-public information to Fairley to make wagers.
Jones, 49, played in 114 games in his 11 years in the NBA. He and the Lakers’ LeBron James were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jones was an assistant coach for the Cavaliers when they won the championship in 2016.
He was identified in the indictment as an “unofficial coach” with the Lakers during the 2022-23 season. Grand jurors alleged he had access to non-public information by virtue of his relationship with James, the Lakers and other NBA personnel.
Fairley, 33, was identified in the indictment as a resident of Mississippi who represented himself on Instagram as a successful sports better and sold sports betting picks through his Instagram profiles. He also is known as “Vez,” “Vezino” and “Vezino Locks.”