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Jontay Porter (Source: AP News)
According to court papers, former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter will face charges related to a federal crime related to the sports betting controversy that led to the NBA's lifelong ban on him.
On Tuesday, Brooklyn federal prosecutors submitted a document referred to as a criminal information sheet. The document indicates that the matter is connected to an ongoing prosecution of four persons accused of plotting to profit from a player's information about his intentions to leave the game two games early, but it does not provide a court date or the accusation or charges.
The office of Brooklyn United States Attorney Breon Peace declined to comment on the latest developments. An NBA investigation revealed in April that Porter misled bettors about his health and subsequently claimed sickness to abandon at least one game, resulting in winnings for everyone who bet on his underperforming expectations.
Jontay Porter placed bets on games in which he did not play
The NBA claims that Porter also placed bets on games in which he did not play, including one against his own team. Although they appeared in court, the four men who were charged with the crime last month have not entered a plea. They were accused of conspiring to commit wire fraud, but were later released on various bonds.
According to the lawsuit, the player owed "significant gambling debts" to Awawdeh, who pushed him to settle them with a "special": purposefully abandoning games so that gamblers in the know could successfully wager on his failing to perform as expected by bookmakers.
Porter played just briefly on those days before exiting the floor due to injury or sickness. In both games for, his points, rebounds, and assists fell short of the expected results. Porter made around $410,000 this year. With five starts this season, the 24-year-old averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26 games. During the 2020–21 season, he also appeared in 11 games with the Memphis Grizzlies.