Portland Coach Turns to Top Trial Attorney Marc Mukasey Amid Deepening Legal Storm
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has made a major legal move, enlisting one of America’s most formidable defense attorneys to represent him in an expanding federal investigation into illegal gambling. What began as a quiet inquiry has now evolved into a headline-grabbing saga intertwining sports, law, and politics.
The Mukasey Factor: A Lawyer with Political Power and Legal Muscle
To defend his case, Chauncey Billups has turned to Marc Mukasey, a name synonymous with power in the courtroom. A former federal prosecutor from New York’s Southern District, Mukasey has built a reputation for handling high-stakes white-collar and criminal defense cases.
His client list reads like a roll call of the powerful and controversial — Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher among them. Mukasey’s courtroom victories and political connections make him a heavyweight in any legal arena.
In 2019, he secured Gallagher’s acquittal on murder charges, a case that dominated national headlines. Years later, he guided FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried through the storm of one of the most infamous financial scandals in recent history. Mukasey’s name carries both clout and controversy, and that’s exactly the kind of defense Billups may need right now.
Deep Roots and Familiar Faces: The Giuliani Connection
Mukasey’s ties run deep into American politics. His father, Michael Mukasey, once served as the U.S. Attorney General, and together they advised Rudy Giuliani during his 2007 presidential campaign. Early in his career, Marc cut his legal teeth working at Giuliani’s own firm — a formative chapter that forged lifelong alliances in powerful circles.
His work hasn’t been limited to politics either. In a surprising crossover, Mukasey previously represented Joe Sanberg, a businessman entangled in an NBA-linked fraud case involving Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. That case — a messy mix of no-show endorsement deals and alleged wire fraud — resulted in Sanberg’s guilty plea and sparked waves of scrutiny across the league.
Billups’ Legal Battle: Poker, Crime Families, and Federal Charges
For Billups, 49, the allegations are serious. Federal prosecutors accuse him of taking part in a rigged poker scheme that allegedly defrauded players and linked him to members of the Bonano, Gambino, Luchese, and Genovese crime families. The operation, investigators claim, stretched over several years and netted tens of thousands from victims.
His supposed involvement traces back to 2019 — the year prosecutors say he joined a fixed poker game that siphoned at least $50,000. Although Billups has not been charged in the sports betting indictment centered around Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, he is believed to fit the profile of “Co-Conspirator 8,” described as an Oregon resident and former player-turned-coach.
The detail lines up uncomfortably close: Chauncey Billups played in the NBA from 1997 to 2014 and took over as Portland’s head coach in 2021. The description is almost a mirror image.
With that, the NBA has placed him on unpaid leave, distancing the league from the controversy as federal authorities prepare for his arraignment on November 24 in the Eastern District of New York.
A Battle Far from Over
With Marc Mukasey now leading his defense, Billups’ fight is entering a new phase. The stakes are high — not just for his career but for his reputation. Mukasey’s involvement signals an aggressive legal strategy, one aimed at dismantling the prosecution’s narrative before it gains traction.
Still, the investigation’s scope continues to widen, pulling new figures into focus and raising uncomfortable questions about the overlap between professional sports, insider information, and underground gambling.
For now, Billups maintains his innocence. But as the legal and public pressure intensifies, one thing is clear — this story is just getting started.
Portland Coach Turns to Top Trial Attorney Marc Mukasey Amid Deepening Legal Storm
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has made a major legal move, enlisting one of America’s most formidable defense attorneys to represent him in an expanding federal investigation into illegal gambling. What began as a quiet inquiry has now evolved into a headline-grabbing saga intertwining sports, law, and politics.
The Mukasey Factor: A Lawyer with Political Power and Legal Muscle
To defend his case, Chauncey Billups has turned to Marc Mukasey, a name synonymous with power in the courtroom. A former federal prosecutor from New York’s Southern District, Mukasey has built a reputation for handling high-stakes white-collar and criminal defense cases.
His client list reads like a roll call of the powerful and controversial — Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher among them. Mukasey’s courtroom victories and political connections make him a heavyweight in any legal arena.
In 2019, he secured Gallagher’s acquittal on murder charges, a case that dominated national headlines. Years later, he guided FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried through the storm of one of the most infamous financial scandals in recent history. Mukasey’s name carries both clout and controversy, and that’s exactly the kind of defense Billups may need right now.
Deep Roots and Familiar Faces: The Giuliani Connection
Mukasey’s ties run deep into American politics. His father, Michael Mukasey, once served as the U.S. Attorney General, and together they advised Rudy Giuliani during his 2007 presidential campaign. Early in his career, Marc cut his legal teeth working at Giuliani’s own firm — a formative chapter that forged lifelong alliances in powerful circles.
His work hasn’t been limited to politics either. In a surprising crossover, Mukasey previously represented Joe Sanberg, a businessman entangled in an NBA-linked fraud case involving Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. That case — a messy mix of no-show endorsement deals and alleged wire fraud — resulted in Sanberg’s guilty plea and sparked waves of scrutiny across the league.
Billups’ Legal Battle: Poker, Crime Families, and Federal Charges
For Billups, 49, the allegations are serious. Federal prosecutors accuse him of taking part in a rigged poker scheme that allegedly defrauded players and linked him to members of the Bonano, Gambino, Luchese, and Genovese crime families. The operation, investigators claim, stretched over several years and netted tens of thousands from victims.
His supposed involvement traces back to 2019 — the year prosecutors say he joined a fixed poker game that siphoned at least $50,000. Although Billups has not been charged in the sports betting indictment centered around Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, he is believed to fit the profile of “Co-Conspirator 8,” described as an Oregon resident and former player-turned-coach.
The detail lines up uncomfortably close: Chauncey Billups played in the NBA from 1997 to 2014 and took over as Portland’s head coach in 2021. The description is almost a mirror image.
With that, the NBA has placed him on unpaid leave, distancing the league from the controversy as federal authorities prepare for his arraignment on November 24 in the Eastern District of New York.
A Battle Far from Over
With Marc Mukasey now leading his defense, Billups’ fight is entering a new phase. The stakes are high — not just for his career but for his reputation. Mukasey’s involvement signals an aggressive legal strategy, one aimed at dismantling the prosecution’s narrative before it gains traction.
Still, the investigation’s scope continues to widen, pulling new figures into focus and raising uncomfortable questions about the overlap between professional sports, insider information, and underground gambling.
For now, Billups maintains his innocence. But as the legal and public pressure intensifies, one thing is clear — this story is just getting started.
