Copyright sportskeeda
The NBA betting scandal involving Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones continues to unfold. According to reports, NYC mobster Anthony Ruggiero Jr., who is reportedly tied to the scandal, was denied $5 million bail on Tuesday. Ruggiero Jr. was denied bail over fears of witness tampering, with Judge Joseph Marutollo agreeing with prosecutors that releasing him could risk interference with witnesses. According to Marutollo, Ruggiero, in the past, had threatened to "kill" a witness, leading to the bail being denied. "He made his hand in the shape of a gun and said, ‘You know how we take care of rats, up close and personal,' Ruggiero reportedly said. The accused is the son of the legendary mafia "Quack Quack" and had pushed for a $5 million bail during a hearing in a federal court in Brooklyn. This bond would reportedly be backed by his family and friends, but was ultimately denied. Ruggiero Jr.'s lawyer, James Froccaro, argued that his client should be allowed to leave on bail, noting that other alleged mobsters in the case were released despite facing serious charges. However, the judge denied the request, citing Ruggiero’s history of threatening witnesses as grounds to keep him in custody. According to the Justice Department, Ruggiero Jr. allegedly was involved in a scheme to rig poker games inside an apartment in Greenwich Village, with four of the five crime families in New York being a part of this scheme. The suspects reportedly used Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones to lure high-rollers, leading to the duo’s arrest last Wednesday. Congress requests that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver brief them about the gambling scandal before Oct. 31 The gambling scandal sweeping the NBA has brought much attention to the league. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Wednesday regarding their involvement in illegal gambling and player betting scandals. Their arrests have put NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in the hot seat after he was requested to brief Congress about the scandal before October 31. According to a report from CNN, members of Congress wrote to Silver on Friday, demanding he explain the NBA’s relationship with sports betting to “assist the Committee in its oversight.” The letter reportedly lists five points that Silver must address, including the league’s planned actions against those involved and whether the NBA’s code of conduct explicitly prohibits illegal activity.
