Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who was banned for life by the NBA for sports betting and intentionally getting himself pulled from games to make money off betting, is likely facing a federal felony charge in New York, according to ESPN.
“Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn filed what’s known as a criminal information sheet Tuesday. The document doesn’t specify a court date or the charge or charges, but it does show the case is related to an existing prosecution of four men charged with scheming to cash in on tips from a player about his plans to exit two games early.”
Porter had joked about getting ‘hit with a RICO charge,’ in his messages with other conspirators, which seems to becoming a more real consequence. While a federal felony charge isn’t as comprehensive as a RICO, which applies primarily to groups of organized crime, Porter could face a minimum of five years in prison if convicted.
The NBA investigated Porter’s betting activity after suspicious betting activity on major sportsbook platforms was brought to the league’s attention. It started with a game in February 2024 where Porter and Long Phi Pham, one of the co-conspirators, placed a $10,000 parlay prop bet for Porter to underperform on major stats because he feigned an eye injury for an early exit.
Their comprehensive investigation revealed that Porter went on to disclose more confidential information about his health to the conspirators before a game against the Sacramento Kings in March, enabling a third party to place an $80,000 parlay bet to win $1.1 million on his unders. Porter directly told co-conspirator Long Phi Pham and others that he would leave the game early citing sickness.
The league uncovered Porter’s history of gambling on NBA games, including placing 13 bets totaling $54,000 from January to March 2024. It revealed that Porter placed bets on various NBA games, with a total payout of $76,059 and net winnings of $21,965. Three of these bets were multi-game parlay bets that included one Raptors game he wasn’t playing in where he bet that the Raptors would lose.
Porter placed bets ranging in size from $15 to $22,000, as the former NBA star repeatedly violated the NBA’s strict anti-gambling policies, and brought a horrible spotlight onto the NBA, his teammates, and coaches. He also put his brother, Denver Nuggets’ star Michael Porter Jr. in jeopardy with his actions.
Jontay is the first active player to be expelled from the league for gambling since 1954, and will likely have to find a way to avoid going to prison for his actions.
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