More names of professional athletes linked to rigged poker games surfaced over the weekend.
Authorities indicted members of organized crime families and professional athletes for the cheated poker games. Chauncey Billups was the most famous name released, but that’s slowly changing.
According to former ESPN host Pablo Torre, the feds indicted retired Los Angeles Charges tight end Antonio Gates. Sources told Torre Gates hosted and played in games in Miami organized by Curtis Meeks. The federal government indicted Meeks last week.
Additionally, former Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtic center Kevin Garnett appeared at the game. Torre said that Garnett is named in the indictment, but wasn’t contacted by the authority.
Torre’s source said that Garnett never played a hand and was unaware he was going to a poker game. He thought he was going to an “afterparty” and left the Los Angeles poker game “early.”
Lastly, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue allegedly played in the same games as Billups in Las Vegas. However, Torre’s source said they did not play at the same table.
Lue Has Clear Ties To Billups And Poker
Last week, Lue defended Billups’ alleged involvement in the scheme.
“It’s hard to see something like this happen,” said Lue. “He has my love and support always.”
According to reports, Lue is the godfather to Billups’ children.
“I believe in Chauncey’s character,” he added. “I know who he is as a person. I’ve been with him since I was 17 years old.”
As far as poker goes, Lue clearly has an affinity for the game. During the 2024 World Series of Poker, Lue was spotted on the Brent Hart’s rail during the final table of the $5,000 no-limit hold’em event.
How do these hands keep happening 🔥😂
📺: https://t.co/WGVOIwvWe6 pic.twitter.com/bY28bjI3VC
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 8, 2024
While the three were allegedly connected to the games, neither Gates, Garnett or Lue have been charged with a crime. Billups and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones were the only athletes arrested as part of the scheme.
Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier was arrested in connection to a sports betting scheme. Jones was implicated in both the poker and sports betting operations.
Federal authorities said both operations were back by organized crime families. The poker scheme involved high-stakes and athletes that were aware of the cheating, involved in it, and were used to attract wealthy gamblers. Authorities allege the athletes received a cut of the winnings.
They used rigged card shufflers, chip trays with cameras, and other high-tech cheating methods, according to investigators.
