The Chauncey Billups Case gained new attention this week as the basketball Hall of Famer and Portland coach pleaded not guilty to federal charges tied to an illegal poker scheme. He appeared in a New York courtroom on Monday, where he faced accusations that he took part in poker games that were fixed with secret tools and run by organized crime groups. Prosecutors say the scheme lasted for years and brought in large sums of money for its organizers. Billups is charged with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. Each charge can lead to up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty. His lawyers say he did nothing wrong and that he has always lived with honesty and care for his public standing. Billups stood quietly in court during his short hearing. He wore a dark gray suit and only answered the judge’s simple yes or no questions. He has been out on bond since first facing charges last month. His lawyer, Chris Heywood, says the claims make no sense. He argues that Billups would never risk his long career, his good name, or his freedom for a card game. Heywood says his client plans to fight the case and prove that he had no role in any illegal acts. The case is one of the biggest federal gambling investigations in recent years. More than 30 people have been charged. Some face claims of running illegal games. Others face claims of extortion and threats linked to the operations. The Chauncey Billups Case drew major national attention because of Billups’s high profile in the world of basketball. Prosecutors say the poker games took place in cities such as New York, Las Vegas, Miami, and in parts of the Hamptons. They say the games were backed by mafia families. The groups used altered cards, special devices, and hidden cameras to change the results of the games. They also used sunglasses with built-in tools and tables with X-ray features that could read card values. These tools helped the operators control who won and who lost. Officials argue that Billups did not run the games but acted as a well-known figure who made the events seem safe and attractive to wealthy players. They say his presence drew in guests who trusted him and did not suspect any cheating. The indictment claims that some players even felt pleased to lose money because they were excited to meet him. In one set of messages, organizers joked that a victim “acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money” because he was starstruck. The claims also say Billups received a share of the profits. Prosecutors point to a payment of $50,000 wired to him after a game in October 2020. They say losses from the scheme reached at least $7m over several years. Another former NBA player, Damon Jones, was also charged. Jones and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were involved in a different but related scheme in which gamblers used inside information about players to place winning bets. That case further expanded the scale of the investigation. The broader inquiry also links the poker operations to the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno crime families. Prosecutors say these groups helped protect the games and used threats and violence when needed. They say the groups expected a share of the profits in exchange for protection. Billups had a long and respected career in the NBA. He played for several teams, including Denver, New York, Toronto, Minnesota, and Detroit. He earned the nickname “Mr Big Shot” for big plays during tense moments. He won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, where he was also named Finals MVP. His jersey was later retired by the team. After retiring in 2014, Billups worked as a TV analyst and later moved into coaching. He became the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021. He signed a new deal earlier this year even though the team missed the playoffs again. After the charges were announced, the team placed him on unpaid leave. Assistant coach Tiago Splitter is serving as the interim coach while the Chauncey Billups Case continues. The case is expected to involve months of review, hearings, and filings. Billups has said through his lawyers that he plans to defend himself at every step.