Summary:
- Long Phi Pham pleaded guilty to his involvement in the sports betting scandal involving NBA player Jontay Porter.
- Pham admitted in a federal court to conspiring to commit wire fraud aimed at sports betting companies.
- The sentencing was set for April 25 in a federal court in Brooklyn; the man could get no jail time to up to two decades in prison.
A gambler has pleaded guilty to his role in a front-page sports betting scandal that led to former NBA player Jontay Porter being banned from the league earlier this year.
“Long Phi Pham“, also known as Bruce Pham (pictured furthest back), admitted in a Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday to conspiring to commit wire fraud.
Pham Defrauded Sports Betting Companies
Prosecutors revealed that Pham had schemed to defraud sports betting companies.
In June, the 30-something man, along with three other individuals, was charged with conspiring to profit from a player’s secret plan to feign illness and withdraw from two games early.
The scheme was designed to ensure that bets placed on the player underperforming would result in significant payouts.
Although the player was not named in the complaint, details pointed to Jontay Porter, who was banned for life by the National Basketball Association in April after its own investigation.
According to court documents, one of Pham’s co-defendants persuaded Porter to withdraw from the games. The conspirators stood to collect over $1 million, with a portion of the money promised to Porter.
However, the plot unraveled when a betting company detected suspicious activity and blocked the collection of a significant portion of the funds.
Arrested On His Way to Australia
Pham was arrested while boarding a flight to Australia with $12,000 in cash just days after learning of the investigation.
Prosecutors suggested he was attempting to flee, though Pham’s lawyer claimed he was a professional poker player traveling for a tournament.
Porter, who last played for the Toronto Raptors, pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud conspiracy, admitting that his gambling debts drove him to deliberately bench himself during the games, allowing the conspirators to win their wagers.
The 24-year-old born in Columbia, Missouri withdrew from two games last winter, claiming injury or illness after playing only a few minutes.
Both of his performances fell below sportsbook predictions for points, assists, and rebounds rebounds.
Pham’s three co-defendants have not yet entered their pleas.
Pham’s sentencing is set for April 25, where he faces a range of potential outcomes, from no jail time to up to 20 years in prison.
Porter is currently waiting for his sentence, which has been scheduled for December 18.