Court documents reveal that former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter is facing a federal felony charge linked to a sports betting scandal, which led to his lifetime ban from the NBA.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn submitted a criminal information sheet on Tuesday. While the document does not specify a court date or detail the charges, it confirms the case is connected to an ongoing prosecution involving four men accused of profiting from insider information about Porter’s plans to leave two games prematurely.
Porter’s St. Louis-based lawyer, Jeff Jensen, did not respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press on Wednesday. Last month, Jensen stated that Porter had been “in over his head due to a gambling addiction” but was undergoing treatment and cooperating with law enforcement.
Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace’s office has declined to comment on the recent developments.
An NBA investigation in April concluded that Porter provided bettors with information about his health status, subsequently claiming illness to exit at least one game early, which allowed those betting on him to underperform to win. The investigation also found that Porter placed bets on NBA games he did not participate in, including once betting against his own team.
The four men charged last month have appeared in court but have not yet entered pleas. They are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
