Posted on: June 20, 2024, 06:19h.
Last updated on: June 20, 2024, 06:19h.
Canadian authorities have confirmed a criminal investigation is underway into former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for manipulating NBA games.
The American athlete was banned for life by the league in April for “spot fixing” and leaking insider information to a New York-based gambling syndicate
US federal prosecutors claim the group placed bets on Porter to underperform in a January 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers and a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings, both losses for the Raptors.
This was done with the knowledge that Porter would exit early from each game claiming injury, according to prosecutors.
What is Spot Fixing?
Spot fixing refers not to the manipulation of the outcome of a game, which would involve a conspiracy of multiple players, but to one small aspect of the game, which requires the participation of just one player.
This could involve the number of yellow cards or throw-ins that might a occur in a soccer game, for example. Or, in this case, a single player’s performance in two basketball games.
The group would have won US$1,272,875 from betting the under on Porter via DraftKings and FanDuel. But the lion’s share of those winnings was frozen by the operators when they detected suspicious betting patterns.
Four members of the New York betting syndicate have been arrested by federal authorities – one while apparently attempting to flee the US. They face wire fraud charges that come with a maximum 20-year sentence if convicted.
Porter Owed Debts to Gang
It was unclear whether Porter would also face charges. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) told ESPN that it has determined a criminal investigation is warranted.
US Federal prosecutors believe Porter agreed to the scheme because he had amassed large gambling debts to the group, and this was his way out.
Court documents show Porter was in contact with co-conspirators via a Telegram messaging group where details of the scheme were discussed.
On April 4, the day Porter received the NBA ban, he told the group that they “might just get hit w a rico” – a reference to federal anti-racketeering charges. He also told them to delete their cell phone records.
Porter’s lawyer, Jeff Jensen, has described his client as a good kid who “got in over his head” because of problems with gambling addiction.
