Damon Jones, who was arrested final week for his alleged involvement in separate unlawful sports activities betting and rigged poker schemes, used his ring for the Cavaliers’ championship in 2016 as collateral for a $10,000 mortgage — plus a $4,000 payment — that wasn’t repaid, in response to NBC Information.
Jones spent 11 years within the NBA as a participant — together with three as LeBron James’ teammate with Cleveland from 2005-08 — earlier than shifting into teaching, and he labored with the Cavaliers’ G League crew earlier than Tyronn Lue put him on the workers by the point that playoff run started, in response to The Athletic.
He allegedly took out a mortgage from Scott Kerr that was presupposed to be repaid by Aug. 28, 2017, in response to NBC Information, which cited paperwork.
Kerr finally filed a civil criticism in 2019 asking for “$100,000 or much less” in financial aid, the outlet added.
Comply with The Put up’s newest on the playing scandal rocking the NBA:
It’s the most recent unusual twist with Jones’ involvement within the scandal that shocked the league final week, when Path Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Warmth guard Terry Rozier have been amongst almost three dozen folks arrested for alleged involvement within the scandals.
Billups and Jones allegedly served because the “face playing cards” to attract in folks for rigged poker video games with connections to the Mafia, whereas Jones additionally allegedly supplied a tip to somebody within the betting ring that James wouldn’t play within the Lakers’ February 2023 recreation in opposition to the Bucks.
He additionally allegedly acquired $2,500 for offering a tip that “one of many Lakers’ greatest gamers through the 2023-2024 season” would solely log restricted minutes due to an harm throughout a January 2024 recreation.
Nonetheless, that tip backfired when the Lakers gained the sport.
The FBI has arrested 31 folks concerned in a rigged poker recreation ring backed by the New York Metropolis organized crime households.
- Ernest Aiello — reputed Bonanno mobster
- Nelson “Spanish G” Alvarez
- Louis “Lou Ap” Apicella
- Ammar “Flapper Poker” Awawdeh
- Saul Becher — skilled poker participant
- Chauncey Billups — Portland Path Blazers coach, NBA Corridor of Famer and 2004 NBA champion
- Matthew “The Wrestler” Daddino
- Eric “Spooky” Earnest
- Lee Fama — skilled poker participant
- John Gallo
- Marco Garzon
- Thomas “Tommy Juice” Gelardo — reputed Lucchese mobster charged in 2013 for beating porn star girlfriend
- Jamie Gilet
- Tony “Black Tony” Goodson
- Kenny Han
- Shane “Sugar” Henne
- Osman “Albanian Bruce” Hoti
- Horatio Hu
- Zhen “Scruli” Hu
- Damon “Dee Jones” Jones — NBA participant from 1998 to 2009
- Joseph Lanni
- John “John South” Mazzola
- Curtis Meeks
- Nicholas Minucci
- Michael Renzulli
- Anthony Ruggiero Jr.
- Anthony “Doc” Shnayderman
- Robert “Black Rob” Stroud
- Seth Trustman
- Sophia “Pookie” Wei
- Julius Ziliani
Jones additionally listed his Yorkshire Terrier as an asset price $1 when submitting for chapter in 2013, in response to NBC Information, and he was allegedly lots of of hundreds of {dollars} in debt with what the outlet described as “persistent monetary issues.”
Three further folks filed complaints in opposition to Jones between October 2023 and November 2024, alleging that he owed them hundreds in mortgage repayments, in response to NBC Information.
Michael Osborne, knowledgeable gambler and sports activities bettor, instructed The Put up’s Kyle Schnitzer that Jones was a “unhealthy generate gambler” who would use his relationship with James as a “enterprise card for folks to realize some belief in opening up some doorways for him.”
Along with being James’ teammate for 3 seasons, Jones was on the Cavaliers’ workers from 2016-18 as an assistant coach.
