The Italian Mafia

[DemocratSinceBirth]

The thought was the Italian Mafia no longer had juice. Corrupting the NBA might be their biggest caper yet. It makes the Lufthansa Heist look like small potatoes.

[BigmanPigman]

1. Too bad they don't dislike tRump

to pull a "Godfather" type of action.

[Sogo]

2. Context for "corrupting the NBA"? Link?

nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. NBA gambling scandal updates: Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier arrested in explosive scheme

The second indictment charges 31 defendants with scheming to rig illegal poker games. The defendants include Portland Trail Blazers coach and former Detroit Pistons star Chauncey Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones.

The defendants allegedly used high-tech cheating technology to steal millions of dollars from victims in secretly-fixed underground poker games. For instance, Nocella said they used off-the-shelf shuffling machines that were altered to read the deck's cards and relay information about which player likely had the best hand.

This scheme also involved the mafia, according to Nocella. That was because members of the Bonano, Gambino and Genovese organized-crime families already had control over non-rigged, illegal poker games in New York City.

Charges in this scheme include wire fraud conspiracy, illegal gambling, money laundering, robbery and extortions, according to Nocella.

...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/10/23/chauncey-billups-terry-rozier-arrested-nba-gambling-investigation/86850632007/

[usonian]

4. Big-ass story.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/breaking-news/article/trail-blazers-coach-chauncey-billups-heat-guard-terry-rozier-among-over-30-individuals-arrested-by-fbi-for-alleged-illegal-gambling-120646980.html

Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier among over 30 individuals arrested by FBI for alleged illegal gambling

Billups and Jones were charged after allegedly being involved with an illegal poker operation tied to the mafia.

[Volaris]

5. This makes me feel off. On the one hand, yes this is what the DOJ is for.

On the other, organized crime, done the Old 'family' Way, seems downright quaint when stood next to the pedophile enablers that are currently squatting in the 3 branches of government...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. Rozier and Billups are presumably wealthy

You wonder why they would risk that.