Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was at the center of the biggest betting scandal to hit the NBA in the legal sports betting era. (Image: David Zalubowski/Associated Press)

The United States Attorney’s Office has filed a complaint against Long Phi Pham, also known as “Bruce,” for conspiring with several others to defraud a sports betting company by placing Under prop bets on an NBA player who appears to be Jontay Porter.

The NBA banned Porter, a former Toronto Raptors forward, from its league for life in April after finding that he both bet on basketball and provided inside information to bettors on games in which he was participating.

‘Player 1’ Worked with Bettors to Pay Off Gambling Debts: Complaint

Officials say that Pham was arrested on Monday at JFK airport while attempting to flee to Australia. In addition to his one-way ticket to Australia, he was carrying a bag with $12,000 in cash, two cashiers checks for $80,000 each, and multiple betting slips. 

Pham is currently being detained while awaiting trial. His bail was set on Wednesday for $750,000. His attorney says he was not attempting to flee, but instead was headed to a poker tournament in Sydney. 

A Tuesday release from the Department of Justice doesn’t mention Porter by name. However, it does refer to a “Player 1” who fits the description of Porter and the games in which he played in that have been under question.

“As alleged in the complaint, Pham and his co-conspirators played ‘under prop’ bets on Player 1’s performance in two NBA games, knowing in advance that Player 1 planned to withdraw from those games for purported health reasons,” the DOJ’s press release states.

Furthermore, authorities allege that the player was in debt to his conspirators, which led to the player agreeing to go along with the scheme. 

“In early 2024, Player 1 had amassed large gambling debts to certain of the co-conspirators,” the DOJ statement reads. “Player 1 was encouraged to clear those debts by withdrawing from certain games prematurely to ensure that under prop bets on Player 1’s performance were successful.”

The statement notes that Player 1 sustained an eye injury in a January 22 game, but was not played on the injury list. In a subsequent January 26 game, authorities allege that the player then told Pham he would remove himself from the game early, claiming he was injured. 

Player 1 would then go on to total just three rebounds and one assist in the January 26 game before leaving after complaining that he had reaggravated his injury. Those numbers match Porter’s statistics for Toronto’s January 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, in which he played for just over four minutes. The complaint alleges that the conspirators won a $10,000 parlay on the game by betting on Porter to hit the Under on his total points, rebounds, and assists. 

Three Co-Conspirators Remain at Large in Betting Scheme

The statement also claims that Pham, his co-conspirators, and Player 1 agreed that the player would remove himself early from a March 20 game. The group allegedly agreed to share the profits from prop bets made on the game.

Officials allege that Pham and three co-conspirators made over $1 million in profits on the prop bets, which were placed at an unnamed Atlantic City casino. The other three co-conspirators remain at large.

Pham could face charges of wire fraud, and if found guilty, he would face up to 20 years in prison.

“Whether on the court or in the casino, every point matters,” United States Attorney Breon Peace said in the statement. “This prosecution serves as a warning that fraud and dishonesty in professional sports will not be tolerated and those who engage in this flagrant flouting of the law will be prosecuted.”

Porter was the first active player or coach to be banned from the NBA since Jack Molinas of the Fort Wayne Pistons received the same punishment for betting on his team in 1954. Along with the allegations of providing information to bettors, the NBA also alleged that Porter made 13 bets on the NBA while he was with the Raptors or their G League affiliate, Raptors 905. 

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