Prosecutors Show Rigged Shuffling Machine and X-Ray Table Allegedly Used in Chauncey Billups' Poker Games By Ben Brachfeld and Elizabeth Rosner

Federal prosecutors unveiled images of a supposedly rigged card-shuffling machine and “X-ray” poker table allegedly used in a mob-backed scheme to cheat at high-stakes poker games — with the alleged involvement of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.

Billups was among 31 people arrested last week and charged as part of an alleged wide-ranging conspiracy to rig poker games using sophisticated technology, with members of the Gambino, Bonanno and Genovese crime families allegedly organizing the games and taking a cut of proceeds.

In a detention memo obtained by PEOPLE on Tuesday, Oct. 28, prosecutors at the Eastern District of New York furnished an image of a supposedly rigged DeckMate 2 shuffling machine, containing cameras that scanned cards and transmitted information on them to an off-site computer controlled by the alleged conspirators.

The shuffler could allegedly give the conspirators an unfair advantage by knowing who held the winning hand.

Prosecutors also included an image of a supposed “X-Ray” poker table, which allegedly allowed cards to be read from a face-down position. Prosecutors also allege that members of the conspiracy used special contact lenses or glasses that could read certain cards from behind.

Billups, a Hall of Fame guard who has coached the Blazers since 2021, allegedly served as a “face card” — a high-profile individual who could draw unsuspecting marks into the phony games. Another alleged face card, and defendant in the case, was former NBA guard Damon Jones.

According to texts compiled in the detention memo, one alleged co-conspirator, Sophia Wei, grew concerned during an April 2019 game in Las Vegas that Billups and fellow defendant Eric Earnest were winning “too many improbable hands,” so another member of the group was added to the table so Billups and Earnest could purposely lose.

“They already know all the signals,” Wei reportedly wrote in the thread. The group allegedly defrauded victims of at least $50,000 that night.

Overall, prosecutors allege the nearly three-dozen defendants cheated unfortunate players out of at least $7 million.

Billups is charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy; he has not yet entered a plea but his attorney has denied all wrongdoing, saying in a statement that he would not “risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom” on card games, per ESPN.

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In the memo, prosecutors said they are seeking a “substantial bail package” for Billups, noting his wealth derived from his Hall of Fame career and current coaching position. Billups has been placed on leave by the Trail Blazers, who are being coached on an interim basis by assistant coach Tiago Splitter.

Damon Jones is set to be arraigned in a Brooklyn federal court on Nov. 6, while Billups’ arraignment date has not yet been set.

On Monday, Oct. 27, Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo ordered reputed mobster Angelo Ruggiero Jr., son of notorious Gambino capo Angelo “Quack Quack” Ruggiero Sr., held without bail, citing a previous case where he allegedly threatened to kill a witness.

Separately, Curtis Meeks, who is accused of supplying the “cheating technology” for the games, pleaded not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy and posted $250,000 bail.