Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is anticipated to enter a guilty plea, becoming the first individual to do so in a significant gambling sweep that has resulted in over 30 arrests. This wide-ranging investigation implicated reputed mobsters and other notable basketball figures. A change-of-plea hearing for Jones, 49, is slated for April 28 in Brooklyn federal court, as confirmed by a recent court filing. Jones had previously maintained his innocence against separate indictments, which accused him of profiting from rigged poker games and disseminating nonpublic injury information concerning prominent NBA stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis to sports bettors. He faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in both cases. His attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, informed ABC News that Jones "is not cooperating," while federal prosecutors declined to comment.

Jones, a former teammate of LeBron James, was taken into custody last October as part of the broader sweep. Other high-profile individuals arrested included Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and a sports bettor alleged to have capitalized on insider injury information. Jones was specifically identified as one of three individuals charged in both the illicit poker and sports betting schemes. He currently remains free on bail.

Hailing from Galveston, Texas, Damon Jones enjoyed a substantial 11-season career in the NBA from 1999 to 2009, playing for 10 different teams and accumulating more than $20 million in earnings. He was a teammate of LeBron James in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and later served as an unofficial assistant coach for James' Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season. Known for his sharpshooting abilities, Jones once famously declared himself "the best shooter in the world" in an interview with insidehoops.com and played in every regular-season game for three consecutive seasons between 2003 and 2006. Post-playing career, he continued his association with basketball as a "shooting consultant" for the Cavaliers and an assistant coach when the James-led team secured the NBA championship in 2016.

The sports betting allegations against Jones detail his purported involvement in providing sensitive, nonpublic information to bettors. Prosecutors allege he sold or attempted to sell information indicating that LeBron James was injured and would not play in a February 9, 2023, game against the Milwaukee Bucks. A text message from Jones to an unnamed co-conspirator read: "Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out." Although James was not initially on the Lakers' injury report at the time of the text, he was subsequently ruled out due to a lower body injury, and the Lakers lost the game 115-106. In another instance on January 15, 2024, sports bettor Marves Fairley reportedly paid Jones approximately $2,500 for a tip that Lakers forward and center Anthony Davis would have limited playing time against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to an injury. Fairley then placed a $100,000 bet on the Thunder to win. However, this tip proved incorrect; Davis played his usual minutes, contributing 27 points and 15 rebounds to a 112-105 Lakers victory, prompting Fairley to demand a refund of his $2,500 fee from Jones.

Beyond sports betting, Jones is also implicated in a sophisticated rigged poker scheme. Prosecutors assert that Jones was among former NBA players utilized to draw unsuspecting players into poker games that were manipulated through various deceptive means. These included altered shuffling machines, concealed cameras, specialized sunglasses, and even X-ray equipment integrated into the poker tables. According to the indictment, Jones received $2,500 for his participation in a game in the Hamptons, where he was explicitly instructed to cheat by closely monitoring other scheme participants. His instructor reportedly likened these collaborators to high-profile figures such as LeBron James and NBA All-Star Steph Curry. Jones was advised to fold his hand if in doubt, to which he allegedly responded via text: "y'all know I know what I'm doing!!" The indictment further reveals that this poker operation often involved illegal games run by New York crime families, who were required to share a portion of their ill-gotten gains with the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonnano crime families. Members of these crime families, in turn, were involved in violent acts, including assault, extortion, and robbery, to enforce debt repayment and ensure the ongoing success of the illicit enterprise, according to court documents.