In a shocking development that has rocked the basketball world, the father of NBA legend Chauncey Billups and former professional player Terrence Williams find themselves at the centre of a major organised crime gambling investigation.
Raymond 'Ricky' Billups, 68-year-old father of the 2004 NBA Finals MVP, faces serious federal charges including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats of violence. The allegations paint a disturbing picture of a sophisticated illegal gambling operation with alleged mafia connections.
The Alleged Criminal Enterprise
According to federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, the gambling ring operated across multiple states including New York, California, and Nevada. The operation allegedly used violence and intimidation to collect gambling debts, with one victim reportedly being threatened with a gun.
Court documents reveal that members of the organisation are accused of using 'strong-arm collection methods' and making 'threats of violence' against those who failed to pay their gambling debts promptly.
NBA Connections Run Deep
The case features multiple connections to the professional basketball world. Terrence Williams, 36, who played for several NBA teams including the New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics between 2009-2013, faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Meanwhile, Raymond Billups, while not a professional athlete himself, is the father of one of the most respected figures in basketball. Chauncey Billups, currently head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.
Violent Enforcement Methods Alleged
Prosecutors describe a pattern of brutal enforcement tactics. In one particularly disturbing incident outlined in court papers, an individual identified only as 'Victim 3' was allegedly threatened with a firearm during a dispute over gambling payments.
The criminal complaint states that members of the organisation 'used threats of violence to collect payments for gambling debts' and employed 'intimidation and fear' as standard collection practices.
Wider Investigation Unfolds
The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on organised crime's infiltration into illegal gambling operations. Federal authorities have charged 19 individuals in total, with allegations spanning multiple criminal activities beyond the gambling operation itself.
Among those charged is Michael R. Moccio, described in court documents as a 'made man' in the Genovese organised crime family, highlighting the alleged mafia connections that federal prosecutors are pursuing.
As the case progresses through the federal court system, the basketball community watches with bated breath, awaiting the outcome of proceedings that have brought the shadowy world of organised crime gambling into the spotlight of professional sports.
