In April, NBA officials announced Porter was banned from the league after they found he violated rules against sharing confidential information with sports bettors, limiting his game time for betting purposes, and betting on his own games. Federal prosecutors then unsealed charges against several men allegedly part of the scheme.
The Scheme Unfolds
According to prosecutors, Ammar Awawdeh, Timothy McCormack, Mahmud Mollah, Long Phi Pham, and Porter conspired to place “prop bets,” or proposition wagers, on how he would perform in given games. Porter informed the men in advance that he would pull out of games on Jan. 26 and March 20, claiming illness or injury, ensuring they could place winning bets that he would underperform on those days, prosecutors said. Together, the men allegedly profited over $1 million wagering on the March game alone.
Pham was arrested as he attempted to board a plane to Australia with about $12,000 in cash, two cashier’s checks totaling $80,000, and a series of betting slips on him, according to a criminal complaint.
Porter Pleads Guilty in Case Over Betting Scandal : Legal Proceedings
McCormack, Mollah, and Pham have been arraigned on the criminal complaint but do not appear to have entered a plea. Counsel for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
