A man pleaded guilty Wednesday in a betting scheme that led to the expulsion of former NBA player Jontay Porter from the league earlier this year.
Long Phi Pham, also known as Bruce Pham, admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud, revealing his involvement in a plot to deceive sports betting companies, according to court documents and statements from prosecutors. His sentencing is scheduled for April 25 in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, where he could face penalties ranging from no jail time to a maximum of 20 years.
Attempts to reach out for comments from his attorneys have been made.
Pham, along with three co-conspirators, was charged in June for orchestrating a scheme that involved a player’s undisclosed plans to feign illness and withdraw from two games. This maneuver would have guaranteed payouts for those betting on the player to underperform.
While the complaint did not explicitly name the player, it was evident that it referred to Porter, who received a lifetime ban from the NBA in April following an internal investigation.
According to the court documents, one of Pham’s associates persuaded the athlete to withdraw from games. The conspirators were reportedly on track to gain over $1 million, with plans to share a portion with the player, until a betting company detected irregularities and halted many of the payouts.
Pham, who is in his 30s, was apprehended while preparing to board a flight to Australia with approximately $12,000 in cash, just days after becoming aware of the investigation. Prosecutors suggested he was attempting to evade authorities, while his lawyer argued that Pham was a professional poker player traveling for a tournament.
Porter, who last played for the Toronto Raptors, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy charges related to wire fraud. He disclosed in court that his gambling debts motivated him to bench himself, allowing conspirators to profit from bets placed against him.
During last winter, Porter withdrew from two games after only a few minutes of play, citing injury or illness. On both occasions, his performance fell below the expectations set by sportsbooks.
He is currently awaiting sentencing, which is set for December 18.
Pham’s three co-defendants have yet to enter their pleas.
