Kash Patel accuses basketball stars of ‘getting in bed’ with crime families

FBI Director Kash Patel warned that the “nationwide takedown” of an unlawful playing ring with alleged ties to well-known basketball personalities and crime households is “just the start” on Fox Information.

His interview adopted the FBI’s arrest of Portland Path Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Warmth guard Terry Rozier in reference to federal investigations into the alleged crime ring.

“When you break the legislation, we will come after you,” Patel instructed Fox Information host Laura Ingraham.

Patel claimed that widespread fraud on basketball’s “massive stage” has been occurring for “a while.”

“It has nothing to do with authorized playing and all the things to do with individuals in positions of energy in international locations just like the NBA becoming a member of forces with La Cosa Nostra and committing acts of extortion, fraud, cash laundering, financial institution fraud and so many different crimes,” he mentioned.

NBA LEGEND CHAUNCEY BILLUPS, HEAT’S TERRY ROZIER ARRESTED AS PART OF FBI GAMBLING PROBE

Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones had been arrested as a part of an unlawful poker scheme. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Photographs; Invoice Frakes/Sports activities illustrated by way of Getty Photographs)

“Your profitable streak is over,” U.S. Lawyer for the Jap District of New York Joseph Nocella mentioned at a information convention. ‘Your luck has run out. Breaking the legislation is a misplaced trigger, and you’ll guess on it.”

Billups and Rozier had been amongst greater than 30 individuals arrested in 11 states as a part of the coordinated operation, which incorporates fees of fraud, racketeering and unlawful playing. Officers mentioned the fraud, theft and theft totaled tens of tens of millions of {dollars}.

HOW CHAUNCEY BILLUPS AND DAMON JONES ARE USED TO FORCE VICTIMS INTO ILLEGAL POKER GAMES

“These people bought into mattress with La Cosa Nostra and 4 of the 5 main crime households in New York Metropolis to create playing empires, rob individuals of their cash, extort individuals, commit fraud, rig poker video games and basketball video games so they may make some more money,” Patel mentioned on “The Ingraham Angle.” “That they had the safety of the mafia in New York, throughout the nation, so they may proceed this scheme to take tens of tens of millions of {dollars} out of harmless victims.”

Patel famous the playing ring’s alleged ties to the La Cosa Nostra and Gambino crime households. Members allegedly defrauded tens of millions of victims, laundered proceeds by way of cryptocurrency and rigged poker video games with cheaters.

“They actually had scanners on the poker tables, the place they actually walked skilled NBA athletes off the court docket in order that their proposals may very well be met,” Patel mentioned.

FBI Director Kash Patel throughout a press convention on October 23, 2025 in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photographs)

The NBA has since positioned Billups and Rozier on speedy go away, Fox Information Digital reported.

“Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being positioned on speedy go away from their groups and we’ll proceed to work with the related authorities,” the league mentioned. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness and the integrity of our recreation stays our prime precedence.”

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith weighed in on the controversy.

Stephen A. Smith on the “ESPN NBA Countdown” set on the Intuit Dome on October 23, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Photographs)

“… when you may have all these protesters who’ve gone there and individuals who have protested towards him and no matter, this man is coming. He is coming, and I have been saying it for a very long time. To me, that is the newest piece of proof that we’re speaking about right here. That is to not query the legitimacy of the case,” he mentioned.

Patel responded, saying Smith’s feedback could also be “the dumbest factor I’ve ever heard from anybody in trendy historical past.”

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The FBI director insisted the investigation is way from over and mentioned the cornerstone of his management is “comply with the cash.”

“We’re persevering with with this investigation and with these arrested in the present day to make sure that unlawful playing empires embedded in La Cosa Nostra are taken down, whether or not they’re within the NBA or anyplace else,” he mentioned.