Two Georgia residents are among 31 people charged in what federal prosecutors describe as a nationwide scheme to rig high-stakes poker games using hidden technology and professional athletes to lure victims. Noted in a recent report, Tony Goodson, 52, of Forsyth, Georgia, and John Mazzola, 43, of Gray, Georgia, were arrested in late October as part of a sweeping federal indictment unsealed in Brooklyn, New York. The case involves alleged members of the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese organized crime families, as well as current and former NBA players. This includes, the article notes, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and ex-player Damon Jones.
For this report, SBS will be going over the latest gambling notes coming from the Peach State, along with a variety of other updates and news you can only find at SBS.
Prosecutors said the group used altered shuffling machines, secret cameras, and even special contact lenses to read marked cards, allowing cheating teams to rake in millions while victims unknowingly lost hand after hand. Authorities estimate the operation defrauded players of at least $7 million since 2019. Goodson is accused of supplying the high-tech cheating devices, while Mazzola allegedly took part in some of the rigged poker games and a gunpoint robbery tied to the scheme, per the indictment. Federal officials described the investigation as a “Hollywood-style” case that blended organized crime, technology, and celebrity allure.
“Today’s indictment and arrests sound the final buzzer for these cheaters,” U.S. Attorney General Joseph Nocella of the Eastern District of New York said. The two Georgia men made their initial court appearances in Macon on Thursday. According to a local outlet, a third man named Kenny Han, of Queens, New York, also appeared in court in Macon following his arrest. All three men are facing multiple counts related to wire fraud, illegal gambling, and conspiracy. The Associated Press reported in late October that both Billups and Rozier face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges. The indictments unsealed in New York create a massive cloud for the NBA, which opened its season this week, and show how certain types of wagers are vulnerable to massive fraud in the growing, multi-billion-dollar legal sports-betting industry.
Noted in another report, on October 23, 2025, current and former NBA players and an NBA coach were among 34 people indicted for allegedly conducting rigged sports betting and poker games. Current Miami Heat player Rozier, former player Jones, and Hall of Famer and current Trail Blazers head coach Billups were all arrested for their alleged involvement in the scandal. The FBI and the New York City Police Department Organized Crime Control Bureau’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force began investigating individuals associated with the NBA for illegal gambling in 2023. The bureau was alerted to unusual betting activity involving Rozier in March 2023, but cleared him of wrongdoing. He was then arrested in Orlando, Florida, where the Heat played their season opener against the Orlando Magic.
Per various reports, the prosecution involves two alleged schemes. Billups and Rozier were charged in separate but related schemes involving rigged poker games and illegal prop bets. The pair were accused of helping the Mafia organize rigged poker games, after which the Mafia would take a portion of the winnings and go after debtors. Billups and Jones are also charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The first indictment involved a group accused of manipulating bets on NBA games using non-public information. Prosecutors identified at least seven games between February 2023 and March 2024 under scrutiny. Rozier was alleged to have informed associates that he would leave a February 2023 game early due to injury, allowing them to place over $200,000 in bets predicting his underperformance.
The second indictment charged 31 defendants, including Billups, with operating a network of rigged high-stakes poker games connected to organized crime. Prosecutors, the report notes, stated that members and associates of various crime families used sophisticated technology such as modified shuffling machines, contact lenses, and an X-Ray table to cheat players out of approximately $7 million. Victims were reportedly lured into games with former professional athletes in cities, including Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons. Unknown to the victims, everyone surrounding them was part of the fraud, including the players, dealers, and even the card-shuffling and chip-counting machines. If players refused to pay losses, members of the crime families allegedly used threats and intimidation to collect debts so they could be paid in full.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to all of the latest gambling news and notes coming from Georgia, make sure to check out the excellent array of info available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic at hand, the Georgia sports betting guide has you covered with all of the most recent updates coming from the region. Additionally, for those who are eligible, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown has you covered with all kinds of new notes about contests and promotions at the outlet. Finally, for those who are eligible and qualify, the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-read page. Here you can explore the latest in betting bonuses and see how you can perhaps maximize your bets and beyond.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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