Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a criminal conspiracy charge related to a sports gambling scandal that led to his lifetime NBA ban.
Porter admitted to a wire fraud conspiracy charge during a hearing in Brooklyn federal court before US Magistrate Judge James Cho.
Read more: Drake Loses $565,000 Betting on Tyson Fury Fight
The NBA banned Porter in April, citing his violation of gambling policies by placing 13 bets on league games, including one against the Raptors.
Last month, prosecutors charged four other men for their roles in a sports gambling operation. Porter was not initially named, but court records revealed he would face charges.
The four men were accused of defrauding a sports betting company with “prop” bets on two Raptors games where Porter was tipped to exit early.
Prosecutors said Porter played four minutes in a Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers before claiming an eye injury, and three minutes in a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings before saying he was ill.
The men allegedly profited over $1 million by betting the “under,” predicting Porter would not meet specific statistical targets.
Porter had substantial gambling debts to one of the men, Ammar Awawdeh, who reportedly encouraged Porter to repay by prematurely exiting games, according to the complaint.
Awawdeh, currently out on $100,000 bail, has not entered a plea.
Prosecutors mentioned that Porter, in an April 4 group chat, referred to potential charges with the phrase “might just get hit w a rico,” referencing a song about anti-racketeering laws. Porter also allegedly asked the men if they had deleted their cell phone content.
