A criminal complaint was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Long Phi Pham, also known as “Bruce,” with conspiring with others to defraud a sports betting company (Betting Company 1) by placing “under prop” bets on a National Basketball Association (NBA) player (Player 1) in NBA games on January 26, 2024 and on March 20, 2024. Pham was arrested on Monday and made his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak. Pham was ordered detained pending trial. Three co-conspirators charged in the scheme remain at large.
The Betting Scheme
As alleged in the complaint, Pham and his co-conspirators placed “under prop” bets on Player 1’s performance in two NBA games, knowing in advance that Player 1 planned to withdraw from those games for purported health reasons. A “prop,” or proposition bet is a wager placed on a player’s performance, rather than the outcome of the game. For example, a betting platform could offer users a wager that a player would score more (referred to as betting the “over”) or fewer (betting the “under”) points than a certain number of points designated by the betting platform for a given game.
As alleged in the complaint, Pham and his co-conspirators placed “under prop” bets on Player 1’s performance in two NBA games, knowing in advance that Player 1 planned to withdraw from those games for purported health reasons. A “prop,” or proposition bet is a wager placed on a player’s performance, rather than the outcome of the game. For example, a betting platform could offer users a wager that a player would score more (referred to as betting the “over”) or fewer (betting the “under”) points than a certain number of points designated by the betting platform for a given game.
The January 26, 2024 Game
In early 2024, Player 1 had amassed large gambling debts to certain of the co-conspirators. Player 1 was encouraged to clear those debts by withdrawing from certain games prematurely to ensure that under prop bets on Player 1’s performance were successful. On January 22, 2024, Player 1 sustained a purported eye injury during a game. He was evaluated and diagnosed with a corneal abrasion, but was not placed on the NBA injury list. Shortly before the game on January 26, 2024 (the January 26 Game) Player 1 told the defendant that he would be removing himself early from the game, claiming that he was injured. Player 1 entered the January 26 Game midway through the first quarter. After playing just four minutes and recording zero points, three rebounds and one assist, Player 1 removed himself from the game after he complained to team officials that he had reaggravated the eye injury.
Player 1’s performance in several statistical categories during the January 26 Game was under the designated amounts set by Betting Company 1 in its prop bets related to Player 1. Thus, several bettors, including co-conspirators, who wagered the “under” on prop bets related to Player 1’s performance for the January 26 Game won those bets.
For example, a relative of a co-conspirator placed a $10,000 parlay bet through Betting Company 1 on the “under” for Player 1’s three pointers, assists and steals. As a result of Player 1 removing himself from the January 26 game, the bet was successful and the relative won $85,000 (netting a profit of $75,000). Additionally, a co-conspirator placed a $7,000 parlay bet through Betting Company 1 on the “under” for Player 1’s three pointers, points, assists and rebounds. As a result of Player 1 removing himself from the January 26 Game, the bet was successful and the co-conspirator won $40,250 (netting a profit of $33,250).The March 20, 2024 Game
Prior to a game on March 20, 2024 (the March 20 Game), Pham and his co-conspirators discussed in a Telegram group chat that Player 1 would be removing himself early from the game, claiming that he felt ill. They agreed to share the profits for money won on successful under bets placed on Player 1, and that Pham would receive approximately 24% of the profits. On March 20, 2024, Pham and his co-conspirators met at a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and placed several bets on Player 1. After playing just three minutes and recording zero points, three rebounds and zero assists, Player 1 removed himself from the March 20 Game, complaining he felt ill. Several bettors, including the co-conspirators, who wagered the under on prop bets related to Player 1’s performance won those bets. In total, the defendant and his co-conspirators netted over $1 million in profits.
On April 4, 2024, in a group chat between Player 1 and the conspirators, Player 1 wrote to the group that they “might just get hit w a rico,” referring to a racketeering charge, and asked if the group chat participants had “delete[d] all the stuff” from their personal cell phones.
https://x.com/EDNYnews/status/1798106946991485273
by codyave
25 Comments
im ignorant but this is about the Jontay Porter stuff right
Not named but this is Jontay Porter ofc. [Games match up](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/portejo01/gamelog/2024).
Y’all wrong, I think this is spoilers to Uncut Gems 2
They really talking about rigging games in a group chat, foster would never
Why couldnt he ask MPJ to pay off his debts. By all accounts Jontay was going to get an NBA contract
> In early 2024, Player 1 had amassed large gambling debts to certain of the co-conspirators. Player 1 was encouraged to clear those debts by withdrawing from certain games prematurely to ensure that under prop bets on Player 1’s performance were successful.
This is some shite you’d expect to read about in the 60s about how hand in hand the mob was with sports.
How much of an absolute *degenerate* gambler do you have to be to where you’re an NBA bench player that’ll presumably get another contract, that you have to resort to throwing games to repay your gambling debts?
I mean I doubt the Nuggets would have hesitated to at least sign him to their G-League team as a favor to MPJ if absolutely no one else was interested in him, perhaps even sign him as the 15th bench player.
How dumb do you have to be to rig a prop bet via group chat??? Like at least do it over the phone to give yourself some plausible deniability. This is an all-time “they found the group chat” moment.
Literally in debt to the mob. Wow.
Up until two years ago, I thought RICO was a relative of his.
Are y’all taking notes on a criminal conspiracy?
Hit with the RICO, they repo ya vehicle, everything was all good just a week ago.
Telegram, not even a Signal chat. Crazy
We sure those ain’t the Drake lyrics from RICO lol
*Ready Player 1*
This is crazy. Hope the feds learned their lesson from the Donaghy case and didn’t tip of the League beforehand.
It was only a matter of time before something like this happened given the surge of legal gambling across the country now. Other leagues are due for one soon too.
> might get hit with a RICO
Uh, yeah. Jontay Porter and these other named individuals are going to Federal Prison for a long time. Fixing games – in the group chat! – is a felony, and because there was “interstate commerce” involved, this is a RICO grand slam.
Everyone home for the summer so let’s not do nothing illegal
Meek Milly!
Sports betting is beyond lame and it’s annoying it’s everywhere now
Who asked for this??
I have evidence that HAWKS OWNER Tony Ressler was heavily involved. He should be forced to sell.
How many prop bets on unders for jontay porter could there possibly be on any given game? Let alone those two where he played and then claimed to be hurt? I’m guessing it’s a short list.
Just play badly on purpose! That’d be impossible to prove
*”If you get jammed up don’t mention my name.”*
Seems like getting involved with betting was a great move NBA.
Not everything is about money. It’s having its effect on society. The NBA and its partners should reconsider what it’s doing.
No one gonna comment on how that’s a Drake lyric?