An individual apprehended in an NBA wagering investigation wanted to escape to Australia.
A man from Brooklyn, believed to be connected to the Jontay Porter NBA betting controversy, was arrested at JFK International Airport on Monday. He was about to depart for Australia.
On Tuesday, Long Phi Pham, who's 38 years old, was charged with plotting to cheat a sports betting organization with his wagers, as per Reuters.
The accusation states that Pham and some others made over a million dollars by betting on Porter's performances for Toronto Raptors while having inside information.
Jontay Porter was a power forward for the Raptors until the NBA banned him for life in April. He's the first player to face this punishment due to gambling since Jack Molinas, a key figure in a notorious points-shaving scandal in 1954.
Sportsbooks Notice
The NBA initiated its investigation in March after receiving tips from bookies about suspicious bets concerning two games including Porter. These were an January 26 loss to the LA Clippers and a March 20 match against the Sacramento Kings, both losses for the Raptors.
Porter left the field prematurely in both games. He played only four minutes of the Clippers match due to a recurring eye injury, and just three minutes in the Kings game, claiming to feel unwell.
Pham, along with three other unidentified collaborators, had interactions with Porter prior to the betting. They wagered $80K at an unnamed casino in Atlantic City on Porter performing poorly in the Kings game, resulting in a $1.1 million win, according to court documents.
Federal prosecutors allege Pham cooperated in the scheme to pay off considerable gambling debts Porter owed.
"RICO May Hit Us"
In an April 4 Telegram chat group, the day he received the NBA ban, Porter warned Pham and others, "you might just get hit w a rico" - a reference to federal anti-racketeering charges. He advised them to clear their cell phone records.
The NBA's investigation concluded that Porter made at least 13 bets on games using a friend's sportsbook account. One of these bets was on the Raptors to lose.
Pham had $12K in cash, $80K in cashier's checks, betting slips, and three phones on him during his arrest at JFK. He's facing federal wire fraud charges, which can result in 20 years in prison.
During a hearing on Tuesday, US Magistrate Judge Cheryl Pollak ordered Pham's detention.
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