Federal officials make arrest in alleged NBA betting scheme involving Jontay Porter

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 4:18 PM
  • Steve Gardner, USA TODAY

A Brooklyn man authorities say assisted former Toronto Raptors guard Jontay Porter in an illegal sports betting scheme has been arrested and detained pending trial.

Long Phi Pham, 38, also known as “Bruce,” was apprehended at John F. Kennedy airport on Monday holding a one-way ticket to Australia, according to a criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court.

Pham is accused of working with Porter and three other suspects who remain at large to defraud sports betting sites by placing bets on Porter’s performance.

Federal authorities say Porter had racked up large gambling debts to the co-conspirators and was encouraged to underperform in certain games so that their “prop bets” on his performance would cash.