In a shocking turn of events, a Brooklyn man has been charged in connection with an alleged illegal sports betting scheme involving former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter. The scheme involved Porter betting on his own team to lose and then prematurely withdrawing from games to ensure the success of these bets.
Long Phi “Bruce” Pham, the man charged in the case, placed bets on Porter’s performance for a game against the LA Clippers on Jan. 26, knowing that Porter planned to exit early. This resulted in a co-conspirator winning $40,250. Pham and his co-conspirators reportedly netted over $1 million in profits overall.
Pham, 38, was arrested at JFK Airport as he tried to board a flight to Australia on a one-way ticket. He was ordered detained pending trial on a charge of conspiring to defraud a sports betting company. Three unnamed co-conspirators in the scheme remain at large.
The United States Attorney’s Office has made it clear that fraud and dishonesty in professional sports will not be tolerated. The NBA player, Jontay Porter, was banned from the league after an investigation into the illegal betting scheme.
United States Attorney Breon Peace issued a statement saying, “Whether on the court or in the casino, every point matters.” He highlighted that this prosecution serves as a warning to those who engage in illegal activities within professional sports.
Prior to a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 20, Pham and his co-conspirators discussed in a Telegram group chat that Porter would once again exit early, claiming he felt ill. Porter indeed removed himself from the game after just three minutes of play.
On April 4, in a group chat among Porter and the conspirators, Porter expressed concern about potential legal ramifications, mentioning a racketeering charge. This ultimately led to Porter being banned by the NBA on April 17. The future of those involved in the scheme hangs in the balance as the legal process unfolds.
As the details of this illegal sports betting scheme continue to unravel, it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of dishonesty and corruption in professional sports. The need for transparency and integrity within the industry is more important than ever, as incidents like these tarnish the reputation of the athletes and organizations involved. Hopefully, this case will serve as a deterrent to those who are tempted to engage in similar illegal activities in the future.
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