Former NBA player Jontay Porter admitted to scheming to withdraw early from games for gambling purposes in a federal conspiracy case. Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, noting that he did it to get out of gambling debts. He is awaiting sentencing on December 18, with prosecutors estimating a possible prison sentence of just under three and a half years to a little over four years.
Porter’s guilty plea aligns with findings from an NBA investigation and ongoing prosecutions of four other men. These men are accused of acting on insider information from Porter about his early withdrawals from games in exchange for large bets. Porter also acknowledged having a gambling problem, seeking rehab, and therapy.
The complaints against the other men suggest the scheme was to profit from Porter’s underperformance in games due to early withdrawals, and attempts to clear gambling debts. The complaint details instances where Porter underperformed, leading to significant financial gains for other individuals involved in the scheme. The interactions also indicated threats of physical harm if Porter did not cooperate with the plan.
Porter had a brief NBA career, playing for the Toronto Raptors before being banned from the league due to the scandal. He also played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-21 season, with a salary of about $410,000. The case reflects a mix of gambling addiction, fraud, and the exploitation of confidential information for financial gain, resulting in potential legal consequences for all involved parties.
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