Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to his alleged involvement in a Mafia-backed illegal poker scheme. Billups, a five-time NBA All-Star and former NBA Finals MVP, appeared in Brooklyn federal court with other defendants linked to a sophisticated rigged gambling operation that used advanced technology such as altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras, and X-ray equipment to rig games in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami, and the Hamptons. Prosecutors allege the scheme defrauded victims of approximately $7 million starting in 2019, with Billups serving as a celebrity figure to attract wealthy players. He is accused of receiving a portion of the illegal proceeds, including a $50,000 wire transfer after a rigged game in 2020. The scheme involved Mafia families such as Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno, and included violent extortion and robbery to ensure debt repayment. Billups was released on a $5 million bond secured by his Colorado home, with restrictions including travel limitations and no contact with witnesses. The case also implicates former NBA players Damon Jones and Terry Rozier, with Jones charged alongside Billups. The trial is scheduled to start in September 2026, with all defendants expected to return to court on March 4 for a case status update.