Another series of texts suggests participants in the scheme avoided suspicion of cheating by swapping in players and losing money to co-conspirators.
Authorities estimate that each game would leave a victim out of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Prosecutors say the defendants allegedly laundered the funds from the scheme through cryptocurrency, cash exchanges and shell companies.
A cut of the profits went to those who helped in the plot, prosecutors say, and some allegedly went to fund the mafia’s criminal enterprise.
“This alleged scheme wreaked havoc across the nation, exploiting the notoriety of some and the wallets of others to finance the Italian crime families,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia.
Billups, who was accused of being a face card in the fixed card games, was arrested in Portland and was placed on leave by the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers said in a statement that they were aware of the allegations involving their head coach and were “fully co-operating with the investigation”.
Billups’ attorney, Chris Heywood, told US media on Thursday that the Hall of Famer is a “man of integrity” and would fight the allegations.
Jones was arrested in relation to both the poker and NBA injuries scheme. He is charged with two counts each of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
