A sixth person was arrested in the betting scheme that saw Jontay Porter banned for life from the NBA.
Porter, who faces criminal charges himself, was banned from the NBA after it was revealed that he bet on the NBA and was involved in a scheme in which conspirators would profit from information provided by him.
Court documents revealed this week that Porter sent a text message to those involved in the scheme with a text saying bets on his “unders” proposition would yield “big numbers”.
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Jontay Porter, #34 of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on March 9, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
“No blocks, no steals. I’ll play the first 2-3 minute stint off the bench and then when I get checked tell them my eye is killing me again,” Porter is said to have texted Shane Hennen, the most recently arrested person. on Jan. 26 before his Toronto Raptors played a game.
Hennen was arrested at an airport in Las Vegas on Sunday before he was set to board a one-way flight to Colombia.
Earlier last January, Porter also texted: “I went back to the locker room to check. I know if I play a lot more. I’m not starting in the second half. But if it’s garbage time, I’ll shoot a million shot.”
Porter pleaded guilty conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces over 20 years in prison, although prosecutors believe he will be sentenced to about four. He will be sentenced on May 20.
In court in July, Porter said he agreed to retire early from gambling to get out of huge gambling debts so he and co-conspirators could win bets on his performance.
Jontay Porter, #34 of the Toronto Raptors, battles for a rebound with Lindy Waters III, #43, of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season game between the Toronto Raptors and the Oklahoma City Thunder in Toronto on March 22, 2024. (Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
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“I know what I did was wrong, illegal, and I’m deeply sorry,” he said.
Porter received a lifetime ban on April 17 after the NBA found in an investigation that he had disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagers on games in violation of league rules. The NBA prohibits players from betting on the league or any of its properties.
The NBA said it found that from January to March of this year, while Porter was either with the Raptors or its G League team, the Raptors 905, he placed “at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s betting account. “
Porter’s attorney, Jeff Jensen, said in June that Porter had been “in over his head with a gambling addiction” but was receiving treatment and cooperating with law enforcement.
Jontay Porter, #34 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 13, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. (Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
One of Porter’s brothers, Coban, began serving a six-year sentence in April for a fatal DUI crash. Another brother, Michael, is a mainstay at Denver Nuggets.
