A federal indictment unsealed Thursday shed light on allegations of a widespread cheating ring in underground poker games that utilized advanced technology, mob ties and former NBA players to allegedly cheat players out of over $7 million over several years.
More than two dozen defendants are named in the indictment, most notably former pro basketball players Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones. The federal case dubbed "Operation Royal Flush" involves an array of characters, from crime family members who used threats to ensure debts were paid to poker grinders who were allegedly part of the cheating teams.