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00:00and security, the NYPD and the Waterfront Commission. I also want to thank the dedicated
00:06prosecutors who built these two cases and who are standing to my right. Benjamin Weintraub,
00:13David Bourbon, Caitlin Farrell, Michael Gibaldi, Irisa Chen and Sean Sherman. They had the
00:23assistance of paralegal specialists Liam McNett, John Schneider, Marlene Bosler. Also deserving of
00:32our thanks because of their outstanding investigative work on the NBA case are FBI
00:38special agents Russell Lantier, Dominic Mariani, Amy Giorosa, Shane Wilkins and supervisory special
00:48agent Luke Hardison. On the rig poker game scheme outstanding work was performed by FBI special
00:55agents Thomas Kribben, Jeff Boreola, Jonathan Corona, Alexander Silverman, Amy Campanaro and supervisory
01:06special agent Michael Malahi as well as NYPD task officer James McCullough and from Homeland Security
01:15supervisory special agent Charles Freund and from the Waterfront Commission detective Paul
01:21Shimborsky. Finally, I want to note that the investigations in both cases are ongoing and we
01:28encourage anyone with information about either scheme to please contact the FBI. Now I would like
01:36to turn the podium over to special agent in charge of the New York field office. I should say the assistant
01:43director in charge of the New York field office of the FBI Christopher Rea. Chris?
01:48All right. Thank you, Joe. As always, we appreciate the partnership here. Can't do any of this without
01:59you and your team. So thank you. I also want to publicly thank the director for coming down from DC. The
02:04director is a very busy person and for him to come down should should tell you the importance of this
02:10historic case. I'm Christopher Rea, the assistant director in charge of the FBI New York field office
02:18today. As you've heard, our office conducted a massive nationwide takedown from two indictments
02:26of 34 defendants for their alleged involvement in two separate illegal poker and sports betting schemes.
02:34where, as you heard, the odds were rigged in their favor. Among these defendants are 13 members and
02:42associates of the Benano, Gambino and Genovese crime families to include capos and soldiers from these
02:53families. Additionally, as you heard, current and former NBA coaches and players are also implicated
03:02to include Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, and Terry Rozier.
03:09Three of the named defendants are charged for their alleged roles in both schemes. This alleged illegal
03:18gambling operation hustled unwitting victims out of tens of millions of dollars and created a financial
03:26pipeline for La Cosa Nostra to help fund and facilitate their organized criminal activity.
03:35Victims were attracted to play alongside well-known professional athletes and coaches like Chauncey
03:41Billups, only to be unknowingly deceived through rigged shuffling machines, fixing the odds in their
03:49favor as alleged and as you just heard from the U.S. Attorney's office. This alleged scheme wreaked havoc
03:57across the nation, exploiting the notoriety of some and the wallets of many to fund the Italian crime
04:06families here in New York. Let me be clear about this fact. The FBI has not and will never take their eye
04:17off the ball when it comes to Italian organized crime in this city, specifically the LCN and the five
04:25families here in New York. We are not going to permit any criminal enterprise, whether it be Italian
04:32organized crime, Asian organized crime, Eurasian organized crime. We are not going to permit any of
04:38those organized crimes, families and organizations to operate in our city or our country as evidenced by
04:46the 11 states that were also participating in this operation today. The FBI office here in New York
04:54remains committed to eradicating all unlawful revenue streams fueling this criminal activity.
05:03As with most cases we work, this is only the tip of the iceberg for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's
05:07Office. Our LCN squad agents and analysts are continuing to work day and night with the Eastern
05:14District of New York to ensure members and associates of the five families cannot continue
05:20to wreak havoc in our communities.
05:24Today would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and dedication of the FBI New York
05:30Eurasian organized crime task force, which as you heard was led by supervisory special agent
05:35Mike Malahi. And coincidentally, supervisory special agent Malahi is going out on a positive as he is
05:48retiring at the end of this month for 30 years of dedicated service to the FBI. And that deserves a hand.
05:55He's what we call legend here at FBI New York. Additionally, obviously we cannot do this alone without our partners. I want to extend my appreciation to Homeland Security investigation
06:10special agent in charge, Ricky Patel. Of course, we do nothing in this city without the NYPD.
06:17My work is easy because I use ClickUp. That's how I follow all my tasks.
06:23And all your resources that you dedicated to this. And New York Waterfront Commissioner Phoebe Soriel for their agency's assistance and support throughout this lengthy and complex investigation.
06:34Our collective efforts ensure these subjects will face accountability, like the director said, for their alleged wrongdoings.
06:42Thank you. And I'll now turn it over to Special Agent in Charge of HSI, Ricky Patel.
06:52Thanks, Chris. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Ricky Patel. I'm the Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations here in New York.
06:58This morning, hundreds of special agents and investigators with HSI, the FBI, the New York Waterfront Commission and the NYPD descended upon the homes of individuals who for years have operated with the false sense of impunity, a false sense of incivility.
07:15In the early hours of today, across nine states coast to coast, dozens of defendants were arrested and will face the consequences of their alleged crimes.
07:25This was their wake-up call. With the alleged involvement of three La Cosa Nostra crime families, one NBA head coach, a Hall of Famer, no less, and former NBA players, the years of investigative work that culminated with this morning's operation seem reminiscent of a Hollywood movie.
07:45But this wasn't luck. But this wasn't luck. And this wasn't theatrics. This was an evidence-driven, relentless, and unified effort among law enforcement.
07:56Through what we have dubbed Operation Royal Flush, HSI New York, along with our task force personnel from the Waterfront Commission, first uncovered this scheme more than four years ago.
08:06Agents and investigators dedicated countless hours and sleepless nights in identifying the criminal network, dissecting communications and patterns, and following the money with precision.
08:19We built the case, piece by piece by piece, and what we discovered was a sprawling criminal enterprise that utilized cutting-edge technology and various methods of deception to dupe unsuspecting gamblers into paying up so that these defendants could cash out.
08:37As alleged, this sophisticated conspiracy cheated victims out of at least $7 million and placed the public and the defendants alike at risk.
08:46This case involved global reach, financial depth, and the patience to dismantle complex financial criminal enterprises from the inside out.
08:56When criminal organizations attempt to launder profits through our country, HSI connects the dots and shuts it down.
09:02To anyone who thinks intimidation, fraud, or violence will shield their profits, understand this.
09:08If you are exploiting our communities, expect HSI and all of our law enforcement partners at your door.
09:14I would like to thank all our partners here today.
09:20Obviously, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Waterfront Commission, the FBI, the NYPD, and the prosecutors that will carry this forward.
09:31Today's arrests are not an end point.
09:34They are the start of accountability.
09:35Thank you, and I now turn it over to Police Commissioner Jessica Tish.
09:48Good morning.
09:49Thank you to Director Patel, Assistant Director Rhea, and U.S. Attorney Nacella.
09:54What we're announcing today is not just another takedown.
09:59It's the result of more than two years of coordinated investigative work by the NYPD's Joint Organized Crime Task Force and the FBI.
10:08Two cases that exposed criminal networks led by 34 individuals who believe the rules did not apply to them.
10:15They hid behind layers of complexity, behind money, and behind influence, believing those things would shield them from accountability.
10:24The first case, Operation Nothing But Bet, exposed a gambling ring built around professional basketball,
10:31where players and associates allegedly used inside information to manipulate prop bets on major sports betting platforms.
10:40They placed wagers on unders, on players to score less, rebound less, assist less, using information that was not yet public.
10:57In some instances, players altered their performance or took themselves out of games to make sure that those bets paid out.
11:04One example occurred on March 23rd, 2023, in Charlotte.
11:10Terry Rozier, an NBA player now with the Miami Heat, but at the time playing for the Hornets,
11:15allegedly let others close to him know that he planned to leave the game early with a supposed injury.
11:23Using that information, members of the group placed more than $200,000 in wagers on his under statistics.
11:30Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes, and those bets paid out, generating tens of thousands of dollars in profit.
11:39The proceeds were later delivered to his home, where the group counted their cash.
11:44As the NBA season tips off, his career is already benched, not for injury, but for integrity.
11:52As a result of this investigation, six defendants, including Rozier, are now facing conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.
11:58In a second case, Operation Zen Diagram, investigators uncovered a long-running scheme in which members and associates of several well-known organized crime families
12:09rigged high-stakes poker games across the country.
12:13These operatives included capos and multiple soldiers from the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families.
12:21Bringing four of the five families together in a single indictment is extraordinarily rare.
12:27It reflects how deep and how far this investigation reached, and the skill and the persistence it took to get here.
12:36That work uncovered a deliberate, technologically sophisticated operation designed to carry out their crimes.
12:43They used custom shuffling machines that could read the order of cards, barcoded decks, and hidden cameras built into tables and light fixtures.
12:51The organizers also enlisted well-known public figures, former and current NBA players and coaches, including Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trailblazers, an NBA champion, and a Hall of Famer, to make the games appear legitimate.
13:10Victims believed that they were sitting at a fair table.
13:12Instead, they were cheated out of millions.
13:15One victim in particular lost $1.8 million.
13:20In total, losses exceeded $7 million and continue to climb.
13:25And when people refused to pay, these defendants did what organized crime has always done.
13:31They used threats, they used intimidation, and they used violence.
13:35It's the same pattern that we have seen for decades, traditional mob enforcement methods combined with new technology to expand the reach of their operations.
13:46Now, with the unsealing of today's indictment, 34 individuals are facing charges, including robbery, extortion, money laundering, wire fraud, bank fraud, and illegal gambling.
13:57I want to commend the outstanding work of our detectives from the Joint Organized Crime Task Force and their dedication to these cases, especially Captain Ruben Pagan, Sergeant Chris McGuire, Detective Alexander Creamer, Detective James McCullough, and, of course, our Chief of Detectives, Chief Kenney.
14:17As part of these investigations, our members recovered and reviewed thousands of hours of video, conducted extensive surveillance on illegal gambling locations across the city, and executed more than two dozen search warrants on electronic records that revealed the true extent of this conspiracy.
14:37Once again, the work of our detectives, together with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, closed those gaps before they could widen further.
14:45The NYPD is proud to stand with each of you today, as these cases represent the kind of partnership that defines modern law enforcement agencies, sharing intelligence, coordinating resources, and moving as one team.
15:06If anyone has any questions that they'd like to ask, now is the time.
15:12I'm not at liberty to discuss either the background of the investigation itself or the investigation as it continues.
15:34So I'm afraid I can't really explain to you, other than the fact that both cases have been unsealed today, and there was an overlap that has been discussed already with respect to certain of the defendants.
15:47Yes.
15:47With respect to any allegations or defenses that have been made by any of the defendants, they will have their opportunity to present them in court.
16:05We're not here to air those at this time or to discuss them.
16:09Yes.
16:09As I said, I can't discuss ongoing investigations.
16:28The investigation is ongoing, which by definition means that there will be further evidence uncovered at a minimum,
16:35and there's always that possibility, but I can't comment any further with respect to that.
16:41Yes.
16:43Director Patel, you had said in your comments, we're going to take heat for this case.
16:50Why do you say that, and what efforts might you take heat for it?
16:57It's not popular to go after some of the defendants that we went after today, but justices serve blindly.
17:05And how do we countermand that?
17:07Simple.
17:08The unsealing of these indictments today shows the force of the Department of Justice and our great Attorney General
17:13and the leadership that we have at the FBI and the team here to specifically mete out justice.
17:19And look, let's not, you know, mince words.
17:21This is the insider trading saga for the NBA.
17:25That's what this is.
17:26That's why we are going to take heat.
17:28But as the evidence comes out, as the indictments are unsealed, you will see the extensive work these men and women put in.
17:33Countless hours over years.
17:35And that's how we countermand it.
17:36We will not publicly discuss the timing of when we do takedowns.
17:52I will only say that we do takedowns in a coordinated fashion with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney at the appropriate time
17:59to make sure that we ensure the integrity of the investigation, as the United States Attorney said,
18:04an investigation that is very much ongoing.
18:06Dr. Patel, you said insider trading for the NBA.
18:10What are the implications of this case for other sports leagues and for the legal gambling industry in general?
18:17Simple.
18:18If you're participating in the legal gambling industry, you've got nothing to worry about.
18:21If you're participating in illegal conduct, you've got everything to worry about.
18:24And this case shows it.
18:25Did the illegal conduct cross with the legal sports betting platforms in any capacity?
18:30And if so, is that other search warrants that the ones that are doing?
18:34I'm not sure I quite understand your question.
18:37You're asking if the illegal conduct...
18:39Would it be cross with, like, the sports betting industry or the online sports betting?
18:43Well, the sports books themselves are victims in this case.
18:49They themselves did not, as far as our investigation has concluded,
18:54they did not perpetrate anything unlawful.
18:58Are you interested in which sports books are online?
19:02How did they make these things?
19:04I'm not going to respond to that at this time, but that information will be made public.
19:09Yes?
19:10Can you identify the access point where these folks are able to recruit these, you know,
19:16famous people to a patent scheme?
19:19When you say the access point...
19:21Are you able to recruit them?
19:24I'm not sure which case you're referring to.
19:26Oh.
19:27So, Rozier, how he was recruited, Daniel Jones, and the NBA scandal, and then Phillips for the book?
19:33We're not at liberty to say that at this time.
19:36That will be revealed in due course.
19:38Yes?
19:38What is your question, sir?
19:43Hey, thanks for being here.
19:45You just said that the sports books themselves are the victims,
19:49at least in the indictment involving Terry Rozier and others.
19:53They're among the victims.
19:54Those companies make, as we all know, they make a crazy amount of money off of...
20:00A lot of everyday Americans make debts and mostly lose them.
20:04Are you concerned with a jury potentially not being sympathetic in a case where the victims, as you say, are these multi-million or billion-dollar gambling?
20:17Let me repeat that all of the defendants themselves are presumed innocent.
20:23We believe that at a trial, when they have the opportunity to present their defenses, if they chose, because they're not required to, we will come forward with the evidence to demonstrate their guilt.
20:38Yes?
20:39The answer to your question is, yes, the NBA has cooperated with the investigation.
20:49Yes, sir?
20:50The investigations that we announced today did not involve college basketball.
21:06Next question.
21:07Yes?
21:08There was an emphasis on the Italian crime presence, organized crime in New York.
21:13Can you give us a sense of the strength and status of Italian organized crime in New York right now?
21:21No, I'm sorry.
21:22That would be a question that goes beyond what we're here to discuss today, which is these two indictments.
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