The former NBA player involved in a major gambling scandal will have to wait another seven months to receive his federal punishment.
Jontay Porter, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in July 2024, had his sentencing delayed from May 20 until Dec. 10, according to ESPN reporter David Purdum.
Sentencing for ex-NBA player Jontay Porter has been adjourned from May 20 until Dec. 10. Porter pleaded guilty to charges related to a betting scheme that involved him manipulating his performance in two games last season.
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) March 6, 2025
Porter was originally due to be sentenced in December 2024. He faces up to four years in prison and hefty fines.
The ex-Toronto Raptor was banned by the NBA in April 2024 for wagering on league games and manipulating playing time to aid a group of bettors.
Porter and five other men are part of an alleged wide-ranging gambling scheme that also reportedly involves Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and five college basketball teams.
Game manipulation
Porter agreed to help the co-conspirators profit on his player props to pay off gambling debts. On January 26, 2024, Porter left a game with what he called an eye injury, logging just four minutes and recording no points, 3-pointers made, or steals. He had one assist and three rebounds.
“Hit unders for the big numbers,” Porter wrote in the text to one of the co-conspirators. “I told (co-conspirator 2) no blocks no steals. I’m going to play first 2-3 minute stint off the bench then when I get subbed out tell them my eye killing me again.”
Porter came out of another game on March 20 against the Sacramento Kings after three minutes due to an illness. He grabbed two rebounds in the game.
"I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry," Porter said in court.
The other conspirators
Shane Hennen, who was arrested at the Las Vegas airport in January, is the alleged by the feds to be the mastermind behind the scheme. He’s awaiting charges while working out a plea agreement with the U.S. authorities at the Eastern District of New York Court.
Long Phi Pham, also known as “Bruce,” has also pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge. Timothy McCormack, Mahmud Mollah, and Ammar Awawdeh have also been charged.
This is all part of an ongoing federal probe into the much larger scheme. At least nine college basketball games are being investigated for irregular betting activity.
