Eric Earnest Pleads Guilty in Federal Gambling Case

Guilty Plea in Brooklyn Court

Eric Earnest appeared in a federal court in Brooklyn on Thursday to enter a guilty plea. He admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud regarding an illegal wager placed on an NBA game around March 24, 2023. Federal authorities previously stated that an unnamed co-conspirator gave Earnest details about the Portland Trail Blazers tanking and holding certain players out of a game against the Chicago Bulls.

Dispute Over Billups Involvement

Details in the indictment matched the career of former NBA player and coach Chauncey Billups. Assistant U.S. attorney David Berman stated the government was ready to prove an NBA head coach shared inside information for bets. However, after the hearing, defense attorney Peter Brill spoke to reporters. Brill stated that Chauncey Billups did not at any time provide inside information to Mr. Earnest that he used to place any bets. Billups was not charged in the inside information case.

Rigged Poker Games and Sentencing

In a separate hearing on Thursday, Earnest also pleaded guilty to wire fraud involving rigged poker games. He admitted to playing in games that were rigged against certain players beginning in April 2019. Federal prosecutor Michael Gibaldi stated that shuffling machines were used to predict hands at the table.

Earnest faces potential prison time and significant fines for the charges. He is scheduled for sentencing in the poker case on March 4, 2027, and the inside information case on April 15, 2027. Remaining defendants, including Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups, face trial in early 2027.