NEED TO KNOWDamon Jones pleaded guilty in connection to his involvement in a widespread sports gambling ring
Jones, 49, became the first of more than 30 people to plead guilty
The former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach has been accused of leaking information regarding players to sports bettors
Former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones pleaded guilty in connection to a widespread sports gambling ring on Tuesday, April 28.Jones, 49, became the first of more than 30 people arrested in the scheme to plead guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in sports betting and rigged poker games, according to The Athletic and ESPN. Two other charges against him were dropped.Appearing in court, Jones said that he used “insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player.”“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association,” the former Cleveland Cavaliers player and coach said in Brooklyn federal court.
Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE's free sports newsletter — sign up now!Jones, an NBA journeyman whose three seasons in Cleveland overlapped with LeBron James from 2005-2008, was also arrested in October in connection with alleged poker games, in which he and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were allegedly paid for their participation in the operation, CNN previously reported.
Prosecutors alleged Jones leaked information about the injury status of James to sports bettors before a February 2023 game while he was affiliated with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The indictment also suggested that Jones leaked information about former Lakers star Anthony Davis before a January 2024 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jones allegedly told a co-defendant in the case that a Lakers player identified only as Player 4 was “probable” for the game. Davis was the only player listed as "probable" for that game.
Of the poker games, Jones apologized for his involvement, reading from a prepared statement that he “knew these games were rigged and that players were being cheated."He added, "I'm really sorry to everyone involved for my actions.”Jones’ sentencing is set for Jan. 6, 2027, where he faces 21 to 27 months in prison, according to sentencing guidelines.