Jontay Porter, a former NBA and Toronto Raptors player, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a federal betting scandal. The plea was entered during his arraignment in a New York federal court on July 10, where he was released on a $250,000 bond.
Porter’s legal team had previously stated his cooperation with authorities amid treatment for a gambling addiction. During the hearing, Porter admitted to intentionally underperforming in games to manipulate outcomes for betting purposes, involving himself and co-conspirators in fraudulent betting schemes.
Expressing remorse, Porter publicly apologized for his actions. He is scheduled for sentencing on December 18 and faces a potential sentence of just under three and a half to over four years in prison. Additionally, he may be required to pay substantial restitution and fines.
An NBA investigation revealed that Porter had manipulated at least two games by prematurely exiting after minimal play time, influencing the game’s outcome and betting outcomes. Reports also indicated he placed bets against his former team, the Toronto Raptors.