The legal troubles of Jontay Porter seem to only just begin. According to court documents obtained by the APthe former Raptors player will be indicted for a “criminal offense” linked to the sports betting scandal that prompted the NBA to ban him for life.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn filed a criminal information sheet earlier this week. The document does not specify a hearing date or the charge or charges.
But he said the case was linked to proceedings already brought against four men accused of seeking to take advantage of a player's tip-off that he was planning to leave two games early.
Jontay Porter's attorney, Jeff Jensen, said last month that his client had been ” overwhelmed by his gambling addiction “, but that he was receiving treatment and cooperating with law enforcement.
It is recalled that an NBA investigation revealed in April that the player had informed bettors of his health condition and then pretended to be injured to leave at least one game. Thus creating profits for all those who had bet on the fact that he would not reach the statistical objectives set.
” If I don't give you $8,000, you'll come to Toronto and beat me up. »
Michael Porter Jr.'s brother also bet on NBA games he didn't play, including against his own team, the league said. The four men charged last month appeared in court but did not enter pleas. They are charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and have been released on bail.
According to the complaint, the player had indeed ” large gambling debts ” towards one of the four men, who allegedly encouraged him to settle them with such an operation. ” If I don't do this special thing on your terms, then it's over. You hate me and if I don't give you $8,000 by Friday, you're coming to Toronto and beating me up. “, the player reportedly replied in a message on an encrypted platform.
After the NBA and other parties began investigating, the player allegedly messaged several of the men in question warning them that they were at risk of being targeted by a ” rico “, an apparent reference to the acronym for the Racketeering and Corruption Organizations Act. And allegedly asked them if they had deleted compromising content from their phones.
