Former NBA player Jontay Porter pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal criminal case related to a betting scandal that led to his banishment from the league earlier this year.
The former Toronto Raptors center entered the plea during his arraignment in a New York federal court, where it was determined that he would be released on a $250,000 bond.
Porter’s lawyer had previously stated that Porter was cooperating with authorities while receiving treatment for a gambling addiction.
Court documents revealed that Porter’s case is connected to the ongoing prosecution of four other individuals. These men have been arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud but have not yet entered pleas.
The charges against these men involve a scheme to profit from insider information provided by an NBA player, who planned to exit games early. The defendants or their associates placed substantial bets on the player underperforming, based on the knowledge that he would leave the games prematurely. Although the complaint did not name the player, the details were consistent with an NBA investigation that resulted in Porter’s expulsion from the league in the spring.
The league’s investigation concluded that Porter had gambled on NBA games and shared confidential information about his health with bettors.
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In court, Porter admitted that he agreed to leave games early to settle his gambling debts, enabling his co-conspirators to win bets on his performance. “I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry,” Porter stated.
Porter’s sentencing is scheduled for December 18. He faces a potential prison sentence ranging from just under three and a half years to slightly more than four years. Additionally, he is likely to be ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution and fines.
The complaint detailed that one of the four co-defendants pressured Porter to resolve his gambling debts by exiting games early, ensuring bets on his underperformance would be successful. In one message, Porter responded to the instructions by writing that if he did not follow through with the plan, “u hate me and if I don’t get u 8k by Friday you’re coming to Toronto to beat me up.”
Following these communications, Porter feigned injury or illness and withdrew early from games on January 26 and March 20. His performance in these games, in terms of points, rebounds, and assists, fell below sportsbooks’ expectations.
As investigations by the NBA and other authorities progressed, Porter messaged the co-conspirators, warning that they “might just get hit w a rico,” referring to the federal racketeering charge. He also inquired whether they had deleted incriminating evidence from their phones.
The NBA’s investigation discovered that Porter had not only exited games for the benefit of gamblers but had also placed bets on NBA games in which he did not participate, including betting against his own team.
Porter, 24, averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26 games this season, with five starts. He also played 11 games for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2020-21 season. His NBA salary was approximately $410,000.
