On Wednesday, Former Toronto Raptors power forward Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The former NBA player acknowledged in the federal courtroom that he had plotted to skip games for the sake of gambling.
“I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry,” Porter admitted to the judge.
Jontay Porter in Hot Water Over Gambling Scandal
Porter, who is out on a $250,000 bond, now waits for his sentencing hearing on Dec. 18. Sources claimed he could face anywhere from three years in prison to around four years. Porter also is likely to be assessed hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution and fines.
Investigators first began probing the allegations against Porter way back in January. Court documents from another case alleged four other men were informed by an NBA player that he was going to be leaving early. Then on Jan. 26, officials claim Porter sat down from a game early after exaggerating an eye injury. This allowed under-prop betters to score cash. Several weeks later, on March 20, another situation occurred, and Porter had to exit early.
The documents claim Porter was encouraged by his associates to withdraw from games early so his under/over prop bets would hit. In doing so he’d be able to clear “significant gambling debts” he had accrued.
Jeff Jensen, Porter’s counsel, made a statement last month saying his client “was in over his head due to a gambling addiction.”
“Jontay is a good young man with strong faith that will get him through this,” Jensen said at the time.
Kyrie Irving Gets Candid on Sports Gambling
The rising popularity of sports gambling in the United States is no secret. Online sports betting is currently legalized in 26 states, with more likely to come. But its increased level of popularity has had a reverberating effect. The level of vitriol fans have against players who cost them money has caused the relationship between fans and players to be frayed, and Irving has begun to take notice.
“I’m just gonna call it out. Everybody is talking about their f —— ticket. I’m not gonna say I don’t care about your ticket, but if you want to gamble, why don’t you gamble on something that makes sense, to you? And if you gamble on me, I’m not going to tell you whether it’s a good gamble or bagging, I’m just saying you’re gambling. You’re gonna win or lose,” Irving said during a Twitch stream in March via Sports Illustrated.
“There is a difference between being a diehard fan and supporting your team and loving your team versus somebody that’s betting on a parlay. … Do not get me wrong. I do not want anybody wasting their money on me. But goddang this whole community of gamblers has come into the game of basketball.”