Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter pled guilty in a New York federal court Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in an NBA betting conspiracy.
Porter, who made headlines this April after receiving a lifetime ban from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, faces the possibility of up to 4 years in prison due to his actions.
Sentencing for the Columbia, MO native is scheduled for Dec. 18, according to the Associated Press.
Porter reportedly showed contrition during his arraignment and plea agreement hearing in Brooklyn, per the AP.
“I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry,” Porter told Judge James R. Cho.
Porter facing potential sweeping punishment for role in NBA betting scandal
When the news of Porter’s lifetime ban broke, Silver said the 24-year-old committed the cardinal sin.
Fast forward some three months and judgment day is now firmly upon the ex-NBA forward.
As for what that may look like come Dec. 18, the New York Post reported that prosecutors recommended Porter serve 41 to 51 months in prison.
Porter is also on the hook for roughly $456,000 in fines and restitution, per the Post.
The former Missouri Tiger has since released on a $250,000 bond. Porter’s bond, however, comes under the condition that he continue counselling for gambling.
Porter’s Attorney: Client dealt with gambling problem
Further reports from the AP revealed that the ex-Raptor’s attorney said his client has a serious gambling problem and was in over his head.
In order to clear a gambling debt, Porter agreed to play and then hastily check out of two games with fake injuries.
The racket, which involved four co-conspirators alongside Porter, saw the former role player leave a March 20 game early, claiming he felt ill. By doing so, Porter enabled a bettor to place an $80,000 parlay involving his under props.
The five-figure wager would have returned over $1 million in winnings had it gone through. However, DraftKings Sportsbook flagged the fraudulent ticket and reported it for suspicious activity. An integrity monitor later alerted the FBI of the situation.
On top of the early clock-outs, Porter also disclosed confidential knowledge of his own health status to an NBA bettor.
All such attempts, which directly violated the integrity of sport and fair competition, were identified and quickly thwarted under a legal, regulated online gambling framework.
Fines exceed Porter’s 2023-24 salary by nearly $50,000
The financial punishment for Porter’s misdeeds exceeds the value of his contract for the 2023-24 campaign by nearly $50,000.
Porter signed a two-way contract with the Raptors, meaning he was not a full-time NBA player. The value of said contract landed around $410,000. His reported fines, however, are in the range of $456,000.
A press release from the NBA revealed that Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games between January and March, totalling $54,094 and net winnings of $21,965.
According to PlayCanada’s sister-site LegalSportsReport, Porter’s situation has prompted conversations between the NBA and its partner sportsbooks about potentially banning prop betting markets on two-way players.
As Porter awaits sentencing, his situation will remain a stern warning for pro clubs and athletes across North America.
