The man who police arrested while trying to board a flight to Australia has pleaded guilty to his role in the Jontay Porter betting scandal that stunned the NBA this year. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
The man who police arrested while he was attempting to board a flight to Australia with $12,000 in cash has pled guilty to his role in the Jontay Porter betting scandal that rocked the NBA earlier this year.
Long Phi Pham has admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud and could face up to two decades in prison after his sentencing in a Brooklyn court in April.
pressuring Porter into withdrawing from two games
Police arrested him at JFK Airport in June and charged him and three others for allegedly pressuring former Porter into withdrawing from two games after just a few minutes.
They bet on the under portions of individual player prop wagers involving Porter, with the first game in January generating a big profit for the gamblers. The sportsbook grew suspicious when similar bets came in during the second game that would have returned over $1m. This sparked the beginning of an investigation.
The Porter, formerly of the Toronto Raptors, eventually came clean about his role in the scandal, saying he was in debt to the men and they pressured him into feigning injuries. Porter pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in July, and his sentencing takes place in December. The other three gamblers in the case are yet to enter any pleas.
