Federal investigators say NBA exile Jontay Porter was texting his alleged accomplices during games to discuss details of the game plan that resulted in his lifetime ban from the league.
The former Toronto Raptors forward pleaded guilty in July to accusations that he had conspired with players to influence betting outcomes in his favor: “I know what I did was wrong, it was illegal, and I am deeply sorry.”
Echoing the findings of an NBA investigation and allegations in an ongoing prosecution of other people, Porter acknowledged that he agreed to withdraw early from games so co-conspirators could win bets on his performance. He did it, he said, “to get out of large gambling debts.”
Porter was scheduled to be sentenced in December but has now been pushed back to 2025. He had requested permission to travel abroad and play in Greece, but was denied by a federal judge in July.
Now, following the arrest of alleged accomplice Shane Hennen on Sunday at the Las Vegas airport, federal investigators claim there were in-game text messages between Porter and his alleged accomplices, according to The Athletic.
In an alleged exchange from January 22, 2024, Porter tells his alleged co-conspirators: “I went back to the locker room to get my eyes checked… (I don't know) if I'm going to play much more… I won't start.” . second half.”
Federal investigators say NBA exile Jontay Porter was texting his alleged accomplices during games to discuss details of the game plan that resulted in his lifetime ban.
Porter then added, “But if it's garbage time, I'll fire a million shots.”
On January 26, he told a pair of accomplices that he was retiring from the game due to injury; information that investigators say was shared with Hennen.
Porter allegedly texted Hennen directly on another occasion to go over a plan.
“Let's do unders for the big numbers,” said the message published by The Athletic. 'I told (co-conspirator 2) not to block or steal. I'm going to play the first 2 or 3 minutes from the bench and then when they replace me, I'll tell them that my eye is killing me again.
Hennen allegedly bet $3,700 through a proxy that Porter would fail to get at least five rebounds in the game.
Later on March 20, Hennen had information that Porter would be retiring from the game again.
Hennen reportedly bet $2,400 on that occasion that Porter would fail to reach an over/under in points.
Porter would play only three minutes in that game and score no goals.
DailyMail.com is in contact with the Department of Justice court in the Eastern District of New York.
In an alleged exchange from January 22, 2024, Porter tells his alleged accomplices: “I went back to the locker room to get my eyes checked.”
Porter, Mahmud Mollah and Long Phi Pham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Two other men have also been charged and have not pleaded guilty.
Mollah, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, will be sentenced May 2 in federal court in Brooklyn. He could face anything from a non-jail sentence to 20 years in prison.
His attorney, Andrew Levin, declined to comment Wednesday.
Porter played only briefly and scored no points in games on January 26 and March 20 before withdrawing from the game, saying he was injured or ill.
According to a court complaint, Mollah used his knowledge of Porter's March 20 plans to place bets that would have generated more than $1 million to split among the conspirators, including a 24 percent stake for the gambler. But a betting company became suspicious and stopped Mollah from collecting most of the money.
The NBA eventually investigated and suspended Porter for life.