Raptors’ Former Center Porter Expected to Plead Guilty, Suggests Report

Jontay Porter, the Toronto Raptors center who was banned by the NBA in April is facing significant scrutiny in the United States and even Canada.

Last month, the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed its intention to look into the player’s activities, amid the looming NBA betting scandal. At the time, law enforcement said it plans to collaborate with the US federal authorities regarding the case.

Earlier this week, media outlets confirmed that the former NBA player saw charges filed against him by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. The felony charges come after alleged ties between Porter and suspicious sports betting activities. The same betting scandal that involved the underperformance of the Raptors center saw charges filed against four other men.

In the latest episode of the betting scandal and legal saga, a newly released report suggested that Porter is expected to plead guilty next week. This week, The Athletic, citing a spokesperson for the US Attorney’s Officer for the Eastern District of New York, revealed that Porter is expected to plead guilty on July 10. So far there’s no warrant issued for the arrest of the NBA player.

Betting Scheme Uncovered

Porter is facing allegations of participating in a betting scheme that saw punters exploit insider information that the player wasn’t feeling well. The games in question were played on January 26 and March 20. During both games, the Raptors center left early due to injury. Both games were also losses for his team. He is also accused of placing sports wagers.

The unexpected injury would have resulted in a hefty payday for the alleged criminal group that placed wagers on Porter’s performance. However, the money was frozen by both DraftKings and FanDuel as the bets were flagged as suspicious. This ultimately led to the downfall of the group of four individuals that are already facing charges.

Jeff Jensen, the lawyer defending Porter, who was quoted by the Associated Press this week, reaffirmed that his client is collaborating to a full extent with the authorities. At the same time, the lawyer pointed to Porter’s gambling addiction, outlining that he is currently undergoing treatment.