Jontay Porter pleads guilty in gambling scandal

Field Level Media|published: Wed 10th July, 15:47 2024

Mar 11, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter (34) reacts after a play in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Former NBA player Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a New York federal courtroom on Wednesday.

He admitted to disclosing confidential information to sports bettors in games he was going to rig and placing bets himself "in order to get out from under gambling debt," he told a judge.

"I know what I did was wrong and unlawful, and I'm deeply sorry," Porter told Brooklyn federal Judge James R. Cho.

As part of the plea deal, Porter has agreed not to appeal any sentence that's less than five years. Prosecutors are recommending 41 to 51 months in prison. He was facing a maximum penalty of 20 years. Porter will owe an estimated $456,000 in fines and restitution.

Sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 18. Porter is out on a $250,000 bond.

Four others have been charged in the conspiracy. The group made more than $1 million on bets based on Porter's information and efforts to rig games.

He was issued a lifetime ban from the NBA in April after an investigation directed by the league found that Porter "violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes and betting on NBA games."

Porter, 24, averaged 4.4 points through 26 games (five starts) for Toronto this past season. He began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020-21, then didn't appear in the league the next two seasons.

He is the brother of Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets.

--Field Level Media