Hamptons Poker, Mob Meets: NBA Stars Snared in Gambling Case (1)

One of the marks at the Las Vegas poker table — mafia associates called them “fish” — seemed happy to hand his money to the NBA Hall of Famer.

“He was star struck!” one of the men now accused of rigging the card game texted. “Yea I know,” replied an associate who the FBI says was secretly signaling cheats at the table. “They all were really!”

The basketball star who was holding the cards: Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups — now indicted for his alleged participation in a yearslong scheme said to involve members of four notorious mafia families ...