"NEW YORK -- Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he profited from rigged poker games and provided sports bettors with non-public information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Jones, a onetime teammate of James, said little during back-to-back arraignments in federal court in Brooklyn, letting his court-appointed lawyer enter not guilty pleas in a pair of cases stemming from last month's federal takedown of sprawling gambling operations."
"Jones, 49, acknowledged he read both indictments and that he understood the charges and his bail conditions, which include his mother and stepfather putting up their Texas home as collateral for a $200,000 bond that will allow him to remain free pending trial. Jones' lawyer, Kenneth Montgomery, told a judge that they "may be engaging in plea negotiations." He is due back in court for a preliminary conference with other defendants on Nov. 24."
"Jones was among more than 30 people arrested in the gambling sweep. The others included reputed mobsters and prominent basketball figures, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Sports bettor Marves Fairley also pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges alleging he cashed in on information about injuries to NBA players, including some that prosecutors say Jones provided to him."
Damon Jones pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging he profited from rigged poker games and provided non-public information about injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He had not guilty pleas entered by his court-appointed lawyer during arraignments in Brooklyn and acknowledged reading the indictments and understanding bail conditions. His mother and stepfather put up their Texas home as collateral for a $200,000 bond to keep him free pending trial. His lawyer indicated possible plea negotiations, and a preliminary conference is set for Nov. 24. Jones was among more than 30 people arrested in the gambling sweep, which included reputed mobsters and prominent basketball figures; prosecutors say he sold information that James was injured.
Read at ESPN.com
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