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Eric Earnest, a central defendant in the federal NBA betting fraud investigation, plans to plead guilty in two criminal cases involving alleged sports betting manipulation and illegal poker operations.
Good to Know
Federal prosecutors allege that conspirators placed more than $100,000 against the Portland Trail Blazers in March 2023 after receiving confidential information about plans to rest key players.
The group allegedly learned about the strategy before the public. Portland subsequently lost 124-96 to the Chicago Bulls, with Damian Lillard, Jerami Grant and two other regular starters sitting out.
Court documents describe an unidentified source called Co-Conspirator 8, whose circumstances resemble those of then Portland coach Chauncey Billups. However, prosecutors have not publicly identified Billups as that individual.
A separate incident involved Terry Rozier, then playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Prosecutors allege that Rozier shared plans to leave a March 23, 2023, game early with longtime friend Deniro Laster.
Rozier played nine minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans before leaving with an apparent foot injury. Laster, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen and others allegedly placed more than $200,000 on wagers predicting lower individual statistics for Rozier.
The alleged betting operation ran for approximately 16 months through March 2024, using confidential information about injuries and team decisions.
The US Attorney Office for the Eastern District of New York announced Tuesday that Earnest, 54, also known as Spook, intends to plead guilty in both US v. Earnest and the related illegal poker case, US v. Aiello.
Earnest faces conspiracy charges involving wire fraud and money laundering. Federal prosecutors have referred the October 22 hearing to Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo.
The two investigations originally produced charges against NBA figures, alleged Mafia associates and poker operators in October 2025. Earnest, Damon Jones and Shane Hennen are the only defendants facing charges in both cases.
Jones entered a guilty plea in April, while Fairley pleaded guilty to multiple charges in May. Fairley also faces allegations involving a separate college basketball point-shaving operation.
Meanwhile, Billups faces trial in early 2027 over the poker allegations. His attorney, Marc Mukasey, has maintained his innocence.
Earnest also has a previous federal conviction. In 2008, a court sentenced him to 151 months in prison for money laundering and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.