Damon Jones pleads not guilty to illegal investment contest and illegal poker charges
6686 Sports, November 7, according to a report by US media ESPN today, former NBA player Damon Jones, who was previously arrested on suspicion of participating in illegal investment competitions and illegal poker, barely spoke when he appeared in court today. The court-appointed lawyer provided a not guilty plea for him in two cases.
When Damon Jones appeared in court, he admitted that he had read the indictment and understood the charges and bail conditions, which included that his mother and stepfather used their property in Texas as collateral for the $200,000 bail so that he could be released before trial. Jones' attorney, Montgomery, told the judge they "may be entering into plea negotiations." He will return to court with the other defendants for a preliminary conference on November 24.
Prosecutors claimed that Damon Jones had sold James’ non-public injury information to others: On February 9, 2023, before the Lakers’ game against the Bucks, Jones sent a text message to the conspirator: “Tonight, before the information is made public, invest more in the Bucks.” At that time, James did not appear on the Lakers’ injury list, but later missed the game due to injury, and the Lakers eventually lost the game 106-115.
Prosecutors also said that on January 15, 2024, another suspect Fairley paid Jones approximately $2,500 to obtain information that Lakers player Anthony Davis would have limited playing time in the game against the Thunder due to injury. Fairley subsequently invested. He invested $100,000 to choose the Thunder to win, but the information about Damon Jones was not accurate. Davis played normally in that game, scored 27 points and 15 rebounds, and led the Lakers to a 112-105 win. Fairley asked Damon Jones to return $2,500.
In the illegal poker case, prosecutors said Damon Jones and other players were used to lure unsuspecting players into rigged poker games, using tampered card shufflers, hidden cameras, special glasses and even built-in desktop X-ray equipment. Jones was paid $2,500 to play a poker game in the Hamptons and was instructed to be careful about cheating when in doubt and to simply fold when in doubt.
