Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have arrested a man for his alleged involvement in a gambling scheme allegedly linked to a former NBA player, NBC News reported Tuesday.
Long Phi Pham, 38, was arrested and charged with involvement in a gambling scheme linked to former NBA player Jontay Porter. according to According to NBC News, Porter is set to be banned from the league in April 2024 for violating the NBA’s gambling policy.
Brooklyn man arrested in sports betting scheme with suspended NBA player Jontay Porter https://t.co/6TtYIbcVjj pic.twitter.com/Dg6CqaIb24
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Pham, also known as “Bruce,” was arrested at JFK airport as he was attempting to flee to Australia, NBC News reported. The FBI alleges that Pham arranged the bets based on inside information allegedly provided by Porter, who allegedly manipulated game results to settle gambling debts. (Related: NBA center Jontay Porter banned for life after gambling on games)
The indictment details a specific incident on January 22, when Porter claimed he played only four minutes and suffered a recurring eye injury in order to influence betting lines, NBC News reported. These actions are consistent with Porter’s known statistics and circumstances on that day.
PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 9, 2024: Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter (number 34) warms up before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on March 9, 2024. User Notice: By downloading and using this photo, users agree to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
The indictment alleges that Pham, who is still at large, and his co-conspirators made more than $100,000 from bets made in the scheme, according to the outlet. In another incident on March 20, Porter allegedly told the group via Telegram that he was leaving a game early due to illness, also in a scheme to manipulate the results of bets.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, authorities took Pham into custody on suspicion of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to NBC News. At the time of his arrest, Pham was reportedly in possession of $12,000 in cash, several large denomination checks, betting tickets, and multiple cell phones.
