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Court papers say ex-Raptor Jontay Porter laid out betting scheme in a text; 6th person arrested

A sixth individual was formally charged on Monday in connection with the federal sports betting case involving former NBA player Jontay Porter. This latest development sheds light on a text message allegedly sent by Porter himself, detailing how to profit from his decision to bench himself during a January 2024 game.

Porter, a former centre for the Toronto Raptors, had already admitted guilt in the criminal case and received a lifetime ban from the NBA. He confessed to deliberately underperforming in games by exiting early, citing illness or injury, in order for those privy to the scheme to profit from betting against him.

While these recent revelations do not impact Porter’s legal proceedings, they provide insight into the scheme through his own words, as documented in court records. In a message to an alleged accomplice on January 26, 2024, Porter allegedly instructed to “hit unders for the big numbers,” indicating his intention to play minimally in the game and fabricate an injury to justify his absence.

Despite sustaining an eye injury during a game on January 22, 2024, Porter continued to communicate with co-conspirators via text from the arena. Subsequently, he played a brief stint in a game against the LA Clippers on January 26, only to claim aggravation of his eye issue and exit early. A similar scenario unfolded in a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 20, where Porter withdrew after feeling unwell, resulting in performances significantly below sportsbooks’ expectations.

In a court appearance in July, Porter attributed his involvement in the scheme to his desire to settle gambling debts. Scheduled for sentencing in May, he faces a potential prison term ranging from no time behind bars to 20 years, with prosecutors estimating a sentence of approximately 3 1/2 to four years.

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Following the arrest of Shane Hennen, another alleged accomplice, at the Las Vegas airport, he was arraigned on charges of wire fraud conspiracy. Hennen, released without bail, allegedly placed bets through proxies based on advance knowledge of Porter’s plans for the January 26 and March 20 games. The court complaint suggests that additional individuals may have participated in the conspiracy, hinting at possible future arrests.

In addition to Hennen and Porter, four others have been implicated in the case, with varying pleas entered. As the investigation continues, more details may emerge regarding the extent of the scheme and those involved.

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