Trial For Alleged Rigged Poker Games That Featured Chauncey Billups Delayed To Next March

Former NBA star player and coach Chauncey Billups and six other defendants who are accused of playing roles in rigged poker games have an extra few months to ponder their fates, after a judge on Tuesday delayed the planned jury selection and trial from Nov. 30 to next March 8.

The delay is due to a scheduling conflict for the legal team of one of the other defendants, Lee Fama, on Nov. 30. The March 2027 date was determined to be the earliest available date for the court and all defense counsel.

In announcing to the assembled defendants the adjournment to March, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York Ramon E. Reyes Jr. also indicated an estimated duration for the eventual trial of four weeks.

The other relevant dates between now and then, per the court: motions in limine to be served on Dec. 18; responses to those motions in limine due Jan. 15, 2027; motions in limine replies and fully briefed motions filed on electric case filing Jan. 22; and joint voir dire (jury selection), joint request to charge, verdict sheet, and exhibits due Feb. 16.

Details of the accusations

Last October, the FBI announced the arrests of NBA Hall of Famer and then-Portland Trail Blazers head coach Billups and 30 others for taking part in alleged mafia-run private poker games in which hidden technology was used to cheat certain players and Billups was one of the celebrity “face cards” used to attract the victims to the games.

In March, prosecutors extended plea deals to a dozen defendants, but Billups was not among those who reached a deal. He pleaded not guilty last November and was released on a $5 million bond.

In attendance at Tuesday’s status conference were Billups and fellow defendants Ernest Aiello, Matthew Daddino, Eric Earnest, Fama, and Thomas Gelardo, while defendant Curtis Meeks was not present but was represented by his attorney.