The Trump administration has strongly criticized ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith following his remarks suggesting that the FBI’s large-scale crackdown on a Mafia-run gambling operation was driven by political motives.

The NBA community was left in shock on Thursday when Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were apprehended along with over 30 others.

Rozier faces accusations of engaging in an illicit sports betting operation, while Billups is charged in a separate case concerning a plot to manipulate underground poker games.

The FBI asserts that it has dismantled a long-standing Mafia-directed poker network allegedly associated with the Gambino, Bonanno, and Genovese crime families. These rigged games reportedly occurred in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas. On Thursday, threatening communications purportedly sent by Mafia members to the victims of the illegal poker scheme were disclosed.

During his morning show ‘First Take,’ Smith suggested that the investigation was being driven by Trump’s desire for retribution, coinciding with a press conference held by FBI Director Patel.

However, later that day, Patel responded sharply to the ESPN host’s claims. He told Fox News, “As the FBI director, I determine which arrests to make. That is perhaps the most absurd statement I’ve heard in recent history, and I spend most of my time in Washington D.C.”

Stephen A. Smith alleged the FBI’s explosive NBA investigation is backed by Donald Trump

The ESPN star, who recently signed a $100m contract, delivered his verdict on ‘First Take’

Smith, who has flirted with a run for the White House, earlier suggested this investigation was the latest evidence that ‘Trump is coming.’

The ‘First Take’ host claimed: ‘Bad Bunny is performing at the Super Bowl and all of a sudden you’re hearing ICE is going to be there looking to engage in mass deportations. 

‘The Super Bowl, disrupting things. Big night for the NBA, (Victor) Wembanyama put on a show… that has now been smeared because we’re talking about this story.

‘Don’t be surprised if the WNBA is next on his list. When you’ve got all these protests going on out there, protesting against him… this man is coming, he’s coming. I’ve been saying it for a long time.

‘For me, this is the latest nugget of evidence. That’s not to question the legitimacy of the case, we don’t know. 

‘But anybody that has been around him, anybody that has talked to him and seen his reactions, from the sports leagues… they are not surprised at what’s going on today.

‘I’m watching a press conference with the Director of the FBI, tell me when we’ve seen that? It’s not coincidental, it’s not an accident, it’s a statement… and it’s a warning that more is coming.

‘In his eyes, folks tried to throw him in jail. In his eyes, he’s innocent and “they tried to put me behind bars. I’m getting everybody.” He’s not playing. Everybody better brace themselves, because he’s coming.’

Defendant Zhen Hu allegedly threatened and attacked victims of the illegal poker ring 

Hu allegedly sent chilling messages to a victim of the ring, who was identified as John Doe #5

His comments sparked a backlash on social media, with users pointing out that the FBI investigation began well before Trump started his second term in the White House. 

Others accused Smith of ‘intentionally making a provocative statement he knows is misleading.’ They claimed: ‘You’d have to live under a rock or be dumb as dirt to believe what he just said. TDS (Trump derangement syndrome) is a real thing.’

Six defendants are accused of participating in an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams, said Joseph Nocella, the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

He called it ‘one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.’

The second case involves 31 defendants and relates to an alleged nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games, Nocella said. The defendants include former professional athletes accused of using technology to steal millions of dollars in underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, he said.

In the sports betting scheme, players sometimes altered their performance or took themselves out of games early, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

In one instance, Rozier, while playing for the Hornets, told people he was planning to leave the game early with a ‘supposed injury,’ allowing them to place wagers that raked in thousands of dollars, Tisch said.

The son of late Gambino captain Angelo ‘Quack Quack’ Ruggiero Sr (pictured) was also arrested by the FBI over his alleged involvement in the rigged poker games

NBA star Terry Rozier is pictured leaving court in a hoodie and colorful shorts on Thursday

Later on Thursday, Rozier was pictured leaving a federal court in Orlando, Florida. He headed out through a side door, having been released from custody.

The 31-year-old wore black and red sneakers, multi-colored shorts and a black Hornets hoodie as he climbed into the back of a black car, while his mother – Gina Tucker – and attorney – James Trusty – were also pictured at the courthouse. 

Billups appeared in court later on Thursday. Both men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges.

According to NBC, Rozier walked out of court on Thursday after a judge denied prosecutors’ request to set a $10million bond. The NBA star was instead required to put up only his $6m Florida home as collateral. 

He must also surrender his passport by Friday afternoon, reports claim, while the judge ordered Rozier not to gamble either in person on online. He is due back in court in Brooklyn in December. 

Billups was later seen walking out of a federal courthouse in Portland after his initial hearing into the alleged Mafia-led gambling ring.

It is alleged that New York’s notorious crime families would use X-ray tables to tilt games in their favor and wear special high-tech contact lenses to read pre-marked cards.

When victims didn’t repay their debts, meanwhile, henchmen behind the operation apparently threatened and violently attacked them, text messages included in the indictment revealed.

In one instance, Zhen Hu, 37 from Brooklyn, New York, sent chilling messages to an alleged victim of the ring, who was identified as John Doe #5, for not paying up.

In the days that followed, the indictment claims, Hu allegedly assaulted Doe #5. He allegedly punched the victim, which authorities say he confirmed himself in a separate text message sent to a separate individual.

‘I punched somebody in the face the other day, s**** unraveling quick,’ he told the unnamed recipient, the indictment claims.

The gang further allegedly extorted another victim in September and October 2023 when the player, identified only as John Doe #6, prolonged the repayment of his debt.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups leaves a courthouse in Portland, Oregon

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Aiello – a member of the Bonanno crime family – was also arrested for his alleged role in the illegal poker operation

Doe #6 told Hu that he was ‘so sick’ with a flu that had left him hospitalized, seemingly leaving him unable to make the payment.

‘If f***o is seen anywhere else in the next two days you do what you have to to get the money Seth,’ Hu allegedly told co-defendant Seth Trustman in a group chat with other defendants. ‘I’m so sick of this,’ he added.

A month later on October 18, 2023, the group discussed how they expected Doe #6 to make the payment after Trustman allegedly threatened him.

‘Seth did much more. He gave him a little nudge,’ Hu sent, later adding: ‘A small but big threat.’

The alleged scheme is said to have lured victims into rigged poker games by giving them the chance to play alongside former pro athletes, including coach Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones.

A number of other high-profile Mafia members were also named in the FBI’s investigation. One of the most prominent is Angelo Ruggiero Jr, the son of late Gambino captain Angelo ‘Quack Quack’ Ruggiero Sr.

According to the FBI’s investigation, Ruggiero Jr stands accused of receiving ‘proceeds’ from the poker games ‘on behalf of the Gambino family’. His father, Ruggiero Sr, had a close relationship with notorious Gambino boss John Gotti, who passed away in jail in 2002.

Along with Ruggiero Jr, Ernest ‘Ernie’ Aiello – a member of the Bonanno crime family – was also arrested for his alleged role in the illegal poker operation. Aiello was previously arrested in July 2013 for loansharking, gambling and drug dealing – before later walking free following a mistrial in May 2017.

He has similarly been accused of receiving proceeds from the alleged rigged poker games on behalf of the Bonanno crime family, as per the indictment. Meanwhile, Gambino mobster Lee Fama was also arrested by the FBI and been accused of getting proceeds from the rigged poker games.

According to KGW and NBC, meanwhile, Billups – who wore a brown hoodie as he left court – did not enter a plea and was released on certain conditions. They include restrictions on travel and no gambling activity.

Later on Thursday, ex-Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones appeared in court in Las Vegas. Jones, 49, is alleged to have been involved in the two separate, but related, illegal betting operations. He is accused of providing inside information about NBA games to co-defendants who are said to have used it to place sports bets.

He was also named among 31 individuals allegedly involved in the illegal poker ring – which is said to have used NBA stars as ‘face cards’ to lure victims to the table. Jones played for 10 NBA teams over an 11-year career from 1998 to 2009 and was a Cavaliers assistant from 2016 to 2018.