NBA Betting Scandal: Jontay Porter 'In Over His Head' with Gambling Addiction, Lawyer Says
- June 8, 2024 11:03pm
- 371
The former Toronto Raptors forward, who was given a lifetime ban by the NBA for a sports betting scandal, was "in over his head" with a gambling addiction, his lawyer said Friday.
Jontay Porter, the former Toronto Raptors forward who was given a lifetime ban by the NBA for a sports betting scandal, was "in over his head" with a gambling addiction, his lawyer said Friday.
Jeff Jensen, a government investigations attorney in St. Louis, also said in a statement that Porter is cooperating with investigators.
"Jontay is a good young man with strong faith that will get him through this. He was in over his head due to a gambling addiction. He is undergoing treatment and has been fully cooperative with law enforcement," Jensen said.
It was his first statement since a league probe found Porter disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, including betting on the Raptors to lose.
Also, on Friday, a fourth man was arrested in the scandal as Ammar Awawdeh, 32, turned himself in following the arrests of three co-defendants earlier this week.
A court complaint accuses Awawdeh of pressing an NBA athlete, identified only as "Player 1," to resolve gambling debts by leaving games early. The tactic, which the two called a "special," would guarantee a payout for anyone who bet on him to underperform in those games, according to the document.
Using an encrypted messaging app, Awawdeh wrote early this year that he was "forcing" the player to do it and told him: "Screenshot this," the complaint said.
Awawdeh, who helps run his family's New York City corner stores, was arraigned and released on $100,000 bond to home detention, with ankle monitoring. His lawyer, Alan Gerson, declined to comment on the allegations.
Porter is not charged in the case or named in the complaint. But details about Player 1 match up with those in an NBA probe that resulted in his lifetime ban in April. The league found that he bet on NBA games in which he didn't play and pulled himself out of at least one so that a wager would pay over $1 million for a bettor who had been tipped off.
Awawdeh and his co-defendants — Timothy McCormack, Mahmud Mollah and Long Phi Pham — used prior knowledge of Player 1's plans so they or their relatives could place lucrative bets on his performance in Jan. 26 and March 20 games, according to the complaint.
Porter played only briefly on those dates before leaving the court complaining of injury or illness.
A betting company ultimately stopped Mollah from collecting most of his more than $1 million in winnings on the March 20 game, according to the complaint.
The defendants, who are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, have not entered pleas. Their attorneys have declined to comment except for McCormack's lawyer, Jeffrey Chartier, who said that "no case is a slam dunk."
The NBA's investigation found that Porter placed bets on NBA games, including games involving the Raptors, while he was injured. He also provided non-public information about the Raptors to others who placed bets.
The NBA said Porter's conduct "violated the league's gambling rules and compromised the integrity of NBA games."
Porter, 24, was a first-round pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018. He was traded to the Raptors in 2019.
He has not played in the NBA since the 2020-21 season.
The NBA's lifetime ban is the most severe penalty the league can impose on a player.
Related articles
-
MLB Mayhem: Padres Tame Dodgers in Game 2 Amidst Fan Chaos
The San Diego Padres secured a 10-2 victory in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the matchup was marred by unruly fan behavior,...
- 07 Oct 2024
-
Philadelphia Phillies: The Unstoppable Force in Baseball Right Now
Join Adam Wainwright as he dives into what makes the Philadelphia Phillies the most formidable team in the league.The Philadelphia Phillies'...
- 07 Oct 2024
-
Dak Prescott vs. Justin Fields: Statistical Breakdown and Matchup Analysis
The quarterback matchup between Dak Prescott and Justin Fields in Week 5 will be a clash of styles. Prescott is a veteran leader with years of...
- 07 Oct 2024
-
Daniel Jones' Scuffle: Will the Giants Embrace Him?
During a joint practice with the New York Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones instigated a scuffle that required coaches to intervene. This incident has...
- 07 Oct 2024
-
NASCAR Retiree Greg Biffle Leads Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and pilot Aaron Lloyd join forces to rescue victims and deliver aid in the wake of Hurricane Helene.Former NASCAR...
- 07 Oct 2024
-
Hell in a Cell Fury: McIntyre and Punk Unleash "Justified Violence
In a brutal Hell in a Cell match at WWE's Bad Blood, Drew McIntyre and CM Punk engaged in a bloody and unforgiving battle that lived up to its...
- 07 Oct 2024
Leave a comment
Your comment is awaiting moderation. We save your draft here
0 Comments
Chưa có bình luận nào