Copyright New York Post
Antonio Gates allegedly hosted and played in a rigged Miami poker game, according to a new report. Sports investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported on Sunday that the Hall of Fame tight end hosted and participated in an allegedly rigged game that was organized by Curtis Meeks, who was indicted by federal prosecutors as part of the massive gambling scandal that rocked the NBA. Details were limited, but Torre’s report follows a report by The Post on Saturday, where one purported victim said that he and his friends had been scammed of nearly $1 million, with an ex-NFL player serving as the “face card” for a game in which Meeks was a main participant. The federal indictment that was unsealed last week named more than 30 people and painted a picture of separate elaborate sports betting and rigged poker game schemes that involved Trail Blazers head coach Chauncy Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones. Federal prosecutors alleged that Billups had been involved as a “face card” for the rigged poker games, with mob-linked organizers using him to lure “fish” into the high-tech scheme. Gates has not publicly commented on the report and it’s unclear if his alleged involvement is related to the rigged poker scheme that federal prosecutors had been probing. Follow The Post’s latest on the gambling scandal rocking the NBA: NBAers Chauncey Billups, ‘Scary Terry’ Rozier arrested in major gambling bust involving 4 Mafia families, LA Lakers and LeBron James Who is Damon Jones? The other NBA player and LeBron James friend in middle of FBI betting, poker arrests Lakers, Raptors, Hornets, Trail Blazers involved in NBA gambling scandal: DOJ Reputed mobster busted in NBA scandal admitted trying to violently take over NYC garbage business ‘Scammer’ known as ‘Pookie’ in NBA poker scandal trashed NYC home — and left behind nude self-portrait: landlord The source that spoke with The Post could not say if the game he played in was part of the same poker ring, but he said Meeks was participating in the game that they were playing in and noted that “we would never have been there if not for the professional athlete.” The person did not name the athlete in The Post’s report. The federal indictment sent shockwaves through the sports world and the idea that athletes from outside the NBA could be involved is sure to shake things up even more. Gates was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August after spending his entire career with the Chargers. In 16 seasons in the NFL, Gates recorded 11,841 receiving yards and 116 receiving touchdowns. He last played in 2018.
