Two More Men Charged in Connection with Jontay Porter’s Betting Scandal

Federal prosecutors have added more charges to the high-profile betting scandal that saw a lifetime ban issued by the NBA against Jontay Porter, a former Toronto Raptors forward. In an indictment handed down on June 6, Timothy McCormack and Mahmud Mollah were charged in connection with the conspiracy that allegedly used insider information from Porter.

Wire Fraud Indictments Issued for Two New Defendants

McCormack and Mollah were indicted on federal wire fraud charges, joining Long Phi Pham and another unnamed defendant who also faced those charges, reported the Associated Press. According to court documents, “Player 1” – believed to be Porter – was part of a deal in which he would perform poorly in games for their benefit.

While prosecutors would not identify Porter as “Player 1,” the details match his actions prior to his NBA ban being announced in April. Prosecutors said Porter communicated with defendants about his health status and left games early under the guise of illness or injury in order to manipulate game outcomes and help their bets win.

Pham’s bets won $1 million during one game on March 20, but he could not fully collect it because the betting company flagged his account for suspicion. McCormack won more than $69,000 from two games where he bet on Porter leaving early. The filings say these are some of several instances where inside information was used to make money off wagers.

Jontay Porter’s Gambling Debts Led to Insider Trading Scheme

Porter had significant gambling debts, which led the other person named only as “defendant four” in court papers to pressure him into leaving games early so they could win enough money gambling to waive those debts. In an encrypted message cited by prosecutors, Porter expressed concern about his safety if he did not do what was asked of him.

The scheme is outlined in court filings. On January 26 in a match against the Los Angeles Clippers, Porter played a few minutes before saying he had an eye injury and leaving. On March 20 against the Sacramento Kings, he played less than three minutes, said he was sick, and left.

Both McCormack and Mollah were released on $50,000 bond after their arraignment. Pham had previously been arrested on his way to catch a one-way flight to Australia but has also been freed on a substantial bond and placed under home detention. Lawyers for McCormack and Mollah declined to comment.

The investigation continues as federal authorities try to determine how far-reaching the conspiracy was.