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All 31 suspects in the explosive NBA gambling case were hauled into Brooklyn court Monday, squeezing into the largest courtroom in the building — as the feds hinted at least some may be trying to cut deals.
Hoops Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, 49, landed $5 million bail at the federal proceeding, while fellow defendants Sophia “Pookie” Wei, reputed Bonanno crime-family mobster Thomas “Tommy Juice” Gelardo and the rest of the alleged crew tied to the headline-grabbing case were there for status conferences.
Billups — who has been suspended as head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers over the scandal — appeared in a gray suit and monogrammed “CB” socks at the hearing.
A prosecutor disclosed to the court that several suspects accused in the scheme — which allegedly defrauded victims of more than $7 million — may reach plea deals.
“With respect to some of the defendants, plea negotiations have already begun,” Assistant US Attorney Michael Gibaldi told the court.
Billups pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering and was released after posting the $5 million bond secured by his Colorado home and signed by his wife and daughter, who attended the hearing.
The scene unfolded in a ceremonial, oil-painting-filled courtroom that is typically used for naturalization ceremonies, but which court officials made available for the unusually large amount of defendants in the case.
Billups sat with his lawyers at one defense table, while a separate table was filled by Gelardo and another reputed gangster who allegedly dealt into the high-stakes scam: Angelo Ruggiero Jr., the son of the late Gambino captain Angelo “Quack Quack” Ruggiero Sr., who was close friends with notorious Gambino boss John Gotti.
The courthouse gallery behind Billups was filled with other alleged participants in the plot, including former NBA player Damon Jones and poker players Saul Becher and Wei.
Billups and Jones are accused of acting as “face cards” to attract high rollers to big-money poker games that were fixed using sophisticated cheating tech, including rigged X-ray card tables, card shufflers and special glasses and contact lenses.
Billups had been coaching the Trail Blazers at the time of his stunning October arrest and was formerly the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals as a point guard for the Detroit Pistons.
