A Brooklyn man suspected of being involved in the Jontay Porter NBA betting scandal was arrested at JFK International Airport on Monday while attempting to board a one-way flight to Australia.
Background and Charges
Long Phi Pham, 38, was charged on Tuesday with conspiring to defraud a sports betting company through insider bets on the NBA, as reported by Reuters. Prosecutors allege that Pham and his associates placed bets exceeding $1 million on the “under” for Jontay Porter’s performances with the Toronto Raptors, utilising insider information.
Porter, previously a power forward for the Raptors, accrued significant gambling debts with Pham and his co-conspirators. It is believed these debts pressured Porter into agreeing to spot-fix games as a means of repayment. In April, Porter became the first NBA player banned for life due to gambling since Jack Molinas, who was central to a notorious points-shaving scandal in 1954.
Suspicious Betting Patterns
The NBA’s investigation started in March after sportsbooks alerted them to unusual betting patterns in two games involving Porter. These games were a January 26 loss to the LA Clippers and a March 20 loss to the Sacramento Kings. In both instances, Porter exited early from the game. Namely, playing for only four minutes against the Clippers due to an eye injury recurrence. And three minutes against the Kings after feeling ill.
Before these games, Pham and three other conspirators, who remain at large, communicated with Porter and placed substantial bets on his underperformance. Court documents reveal that they wagered $80,000 at an Atlantic City casino on the Kings game. Resulting in $1.1 million in winnings.
Legal Implications
Federal prosecutors claim that Porter, who had large gambling debts, agreed to the spot-fixing scheme to settle his dues. On April 4, the day of his NBA ban, Porter hinted at potential federal racketeering charges (RICO) in a Telegram chat with Pham and others. Advising them to delete their phone records.
The NBA’s investigation further uncovered that Porter placed at least 13 bets on games using a friend’s sportsbook account. Including one on a Raptors loss.
Arrest and Detention
When arrested at JFK, Pham had $12,000 in cash, $80,000 in cashier’s checks, betting slips, and three cell phones. He faces federal wire fraud charges, which carry a potential 20-year prison sentence. At his hearing on Tuesday, US Magistrate Judge Cheryl Pollak ordered Pham’s detention.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of professional sports and the severe consequences of gambling-related offences.
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