Chauncey Billups Hires Defense Attorney Amid Federal Gambling Investigation

Portland, Oregon — Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, has hired prominent defense attorney Marc Mukasey to represent him as he faces federal charges related to an illegal gambling investigation. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed this development on October 30, 2025.

Mukasey, the founding partner of Mukasey Young LLC, is renowned for handling high-profile cases, including representing former President Donald Trump. He previously served as a prosecutor in New York and has experience with complex white-collar crimes.

Billups, 49, was indicted for his alleged involvement in a long-term scheme to defraud poker players, with links to organized crime families. Prosecutors claim that Billups took part in a rigged poker game in 2019, during which he and others allegedly defrauded victims of at least $50,000.

The NBA has placed Billups on unpaid leave while the investigation unfolds. He has not been directly charged in connection with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier’s indictment regarding sports betting but matches the description of an unnamed co-conspirator in the case.

Billups’ arraignment in the Eastern District of New York is scheduled for November 24. His previous attorney, Chris Heywood, represented him during the early stages of the legal proceedings.

“The allegations are serious, and we are vigorously contesting them,” said Heywood prior to Mukasey’s appointment. Billups has a history in the NBA, having played from 1997 to 2014 before assuming his coaching role in 2021.

Further complicating the matter is Billups’ connection to Eric “Spook” Earnest, another individual involved in the alleged poker schemes. Reports indicate that their families have online ties, adding another layer of scrutiny to Billups’ situation.

Billups’ situation has cast a shadow over the Trail Blazers as they navigate a tumultuous season, with interim head coach Tiago Splitter taking the helm in his absence.

The upcoming court date may prove pivotal for Billups as he seeks to clear his name amid these serious allegations, which have attracted significant media attention.