Jontay Porter, a former player for the Toronto Raptors, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, admitting to involvement in a betting scandal. The NBA had previously banned Porter for life in April after a league investigation revealed he bet on NBA games, provided confidential information to sports bettors, and falsely claimed illness to check out of a game for betting purposes. Porter now faces $456,000 in fines and restitution.
Jontay Porter turned himself in and confessed to his part in the scheme, which helped his co-conspirators earn $1 million while he attempted to settle his gambling debts. “I know what I did was wrong and unlawful, and I’m deeply sorry,” Porter told Brooklyn federal Judge James R. Cho.
Jeff Jensen, Porter’s lawyer, stated last month that Porter is undergoing treatment for a gambling addiction. “Jontay is a good young man with strong faith that will get him through this,” Jensen said. “He was in over his head due to a gambling addiction. He is undergoing treatment and has been fully cooperative with law enforcement.”
Four other men have been arrested in connection with this scandal. Long Phi Pham was detained on June 4, while Timothy McCormack and Mahmud Mollah were charged on June 6, and Ammar Awawdeh on June 7. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York accuses them of convincing an NBA player with substantial gambling debts to leave games early, ensuring their “under” prop bets succeeded. This scheme corrupted two games and numerous bets, said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
Canadian authorities are also investigating the scandal. Craig Abrams, a spokesperson for the Ontario Provincial Police, told ESPN on June 18 that they are specifically looking into games in Toronto on January 26 and March 20, from which Porter allegedly left early for betting purposes.
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