Tag: Chanuncy Billups

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Mafia-NBA Gambling investigation -Gambino family mobster revealed

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Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups who was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame on Sun Oct 12, 2024 at Uncasville Conn. Will his Hall of Fame status be under threat if found to have been fixing NBA games? (AP News photo)

Mafia-NBA Gambling investigation -Gambino family mobster revealed

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Angelo Ruggiero Jr., a member of the Gambino crime family, is implicated in a recent NBA gambling scandal that involves rigging illegal high-stakes poker games . Federal prosecutors allege that he and other mob associates used these games to defraud wealthy participants, which included current and former NBA players.

He is the son of the deceased Gambino captain, Angelo “Quack Quack” Ruggiero Sr., a close associate of mob boss John Gotti. Ruggiero Jr. is accused of receiving proceeds from the rigged poker games, which allegedly used sophisticated technology like rigged shuffling machines, marked cards, and hidden cameras to cheat players out of millions of dollars a judge recently denied Ruggiero Jr.’s bail request, citing his prior conviction for witness tampering and ruling that he posed a significant risk to witnesses in the current case.

During that previous incident, Ruggiero Jr. allegedly pointed his hand like a gun at a witness in his jail cell and said, “You know how we take care of rats, we get up-close and personal”. The Mafia-NBA investigation by the Justice Department includes an illegal poker ring as part of a larger investigation into illegal sports betting involving several mob families and prominent figures, including NBA coach Chauncey Billups and player/guard Terry Rozier.

These investigations have been going on for a while. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department Organized Crime Control Bureau’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force began investigating individuals associated with the NBA for illegal gambling in 2023.

The bureau was alerted to unusual betting activity involving Rozier in March 2023. As the investigation continues, there will be more revelations, although I have to say, there is a better than 50-50 chance the Department of Justice knows much more that they will not reveal, for obvious reasons.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: NBA Gambling Scandal, Operation Royal Flush and Greed

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This combo of images shows charged NBA personnel, from left, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers’ Damon Jones. (AP Photo/File)

NBA Gambling Scandal, Operation Royal Flush and Greed

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Prosecutors say the suspects in Thursday’s NBA-Mafia-linked gambling bust used a wide range of sophisticated technology to cheat victims out of millions of dollars. At Thursday’s news conference, it was revealed that Operation Royal Flush began as early as 2019, with rigged games played in major markets like New York City.

In essence, this FBI investigation has been ongoing for five years. But now, everything is starting to come to the surface, with every day that goes by, more and more information is disclosed. This drip-drip story creates a nightmare scenario for a very lucrative sports league with a worldwide audience.

The NBA is both extremely popular and lucrative in China, where it is the country’s most popular sport with an estimated half a billion fans and a business value of around $5 billion. This story has worldwide repercussions.

Federal indictments filed in October 2025 allege that at least two NBA players faked injuries as part of an illegal gambling and game-manipulation scheme, and there is more. Some made bets based on information about a certain player who would not be available, thus encouraging someone “on the outside ” to bet against a particular team without their star player.

It is ugly, folks. From X-ray tables to hidden cameras and even per-marketed cards, prosecutors say the suspects in this NBA-Mafia-linked gambling bust used a wide range of very sophisticated technology in order to cheat victims out of millions of dollars.

At Thursday’s news conference, officials said the poker scheme, dubbed ‘Operation Royal Flush, started with an ” Expect domino effect ” after gambling allegations involving NBA” Said famous attorney Mark Geragos.

US Congress sent a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver requesting a briefing and expressing concern over “allegations of illegal gambling and sports rigging”. Looks like this NBA Gambling scandal has opened a can of worms.

The NCAA said Thursday it is investigating 13 Division I men’s basketball players at six schools — including Temple and Arizona State — for alleged violations of gambling rules and failing to cooperate with investigators.

The NBA has the highest average player earnings per year. In the 2024-25 season, the average NBA player salary was about $11.91 million, surpassing other major leagues like the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball Politicians talk all the time about the “privilege class” in the United States, usually they do not go into sports, it becomes a talking point among political people, but the fact remains that professional sports in the United States is a very lucrative business for all involved, including players.

While the average salary of an American is around $63.000 per year, the average salary of an NBA player is around $11 million per year. $11 million per year would be more than enough for you and me and the majority of people, but there is one word that plays a big role here that nobody has mentioned.

Greed, one of the seven deadly sins, is a desire for more and more and more, like wealth, power, or possessions. We cannot forget that Greed is also part of this, even among those who are already millionaires.

Notes: Numerous regulated sports gambling websites are available in the U.S., but they are only accessible in states where sports betting is legal . Draft Kings and Fan Duel lead the market, with Bet MGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, and bet365 also being popular choices.

Quote: “Eat your betting money but don’t bet your eating money.”—Horse Racing Proverb.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com