Alarming messages purportedly sent by Mafia operatives to individuals ensnared in an illicit poker scheme have come to light following a dramatic FBI probe that resulted in the arrest of an NBA head coach.

The FBI asserts it has dismantled a Mafia-controlled poker network that has allegedly been linked to the notorious Gambino, Bonanno, and Genovese crime families. Prosecutors claim the fixed games took place in locations such as Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas.

According to the indictment, the operation allegedly involved using professional athletes, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, as high-profile “face cards” to lure participants into games where sophisticated methods were employed by the Mafia to manipulate outcomes.

When those involved failed to settle their debts, the organization’s enforcers reportedly resorted to intimidation and violence, as revealed by text messages cited in the indictment.

In one particular case, 37-year-old Zhen Hu from Brooklyn allegedly sent menacing texts to a victim, referred to as John Doe #5, for neglecting to pay his dues.

‘Yeah? You not gonna pay me?’ Hu asked in a message on November 5, 2022, which he swiftly followed by sending another message: ‘Alright bet.’ 

Defendant Zhen Hu allegedly threatened and attacked victims of the illegal poker ring 

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in relation to the alleged scheme 

‘Watch what’s good now. You’ve been running your mouth unchecked,’ he later warned in a subsequent message sent seconds later. 

In the days that followed, the indictment claims, Hu is said to have made good on his threat when he allegedly assaulted Doe #5. 

He allegedly punched the victim, which authorities say he confirmed himself in a separate text message sent to a separate individual. 

‘I punched somebody in the face the other day, s**** unraveling quick,’ he told the unnamed recipient, the indictment claims. 

Hu, along with two other defendants Julius Ziliani and Thomas Gelardo, are alleged to have then demanded to see Doe #5 at an address on Washington Place in New York City. There, Gelardo allegedly assaulted Doe #5 once again after he eventually came outside the building. 

‘What you did was cowardly and ridiculous,’ Doe #5 wrote to Hu almost a year later, appearing to confirm the assault, per the indictment. 

‘And then u sent a bunch of goons to solve your problems,’ he added. 

The gang further allegedly extorted another victim in September and October 2023 when the player, identified only as John Doe #6, prolonged the repayment of his debt. 

Hu allegedly sent chilling messages to a victim of the ring, who was identified as John Doe #5

He later appeared to confirm that he had assaulted Doe #5 in a separate text message

Doe #6 told Hu that he was ‘so sick’ with a flu that had left him hospitalized, seemingly leaving him unable to make the payment.

‘If f***o is seen anywhere else in the next two days you do what you have to to get the money Seth,’ Hu allegedly told co-defendant Seth Trustman in a group chat with other defendants. 

‘I’m so sick of this,’ he added. 

A month later on October 18, 2023, the group discussed how they expected Doe #6 to make the payment after Trustman allegedly threatened him.

‘Seth did much more. He gave him a little nudge,’ Hu sent, later adding: ‘A small but big threat.’  

On the same date, the indictment says, Doe #6 was captured on surveillance footage arriving at an address on Lexington Avenue where he handed something to a woman from a Black Range Rover. 

He allegedly told Trustman that he would deliver $5,000 in person, while another $5,000 would be sent via a transfer. 

Hu had saved on his cellphone a photograph of a check dated October 18, 2023, from John Doe #6 in the amount of $5,000. The payee was left blank, and the memo line stated: ‘Poker.’

Hu is pictured alongside his co-defendants Seth Trustman, Saul Becher, Julius Ziliani and Thomas Gelardo

In a separate instance, Hu allegedly instructed his co-defendant to ‘do what you have to do to get the money’ from another victim, who was identified as John Doe #6

The alleged scheme is said to have lured victims into rigged poker games, which took place in the Hamptons, Miami, Las Vegas and Manhattan, by giving them the chance to play alongside former pro athletes, including coach Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones.

Along with the aforementioned mobsters and basketball stars, a number of other high-profile Mafia members were named in the FBI’s investigation. 

One of the most prominent names is Angelo Ruggiero Jr, who is the son of late Gambino captain Angelo ‘Quack Quack’ Ruggiero Sr. 

According to the FBI’s investigation, Ruggiero Jr stands accused of receiving ‘proceeds’ from the poker games ‘on behalf of the Gambino family’. 

His father, Ruggiero Sr, had a close relationship with notorious Gambino boss John Gotti, who passed away in jail in 2002.

Along with Ruggiero Jr, Ernest ‘Ernie’ Aiello – a member of the Bonanno crime family – was also arrested for his alleged role in the illegal poker operation.  

Aiello was previously arrested in July 2013 for loansharking, gambling and drug dealing – before later walking free following a mistrial in May 2017. 

He has similarly been accused of receiving proceeds from the alleged rigged poker games on behalf of the Bonanno crime family, as per the indictment.

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Aiello – a member of the Bonanno crime family – was also arrested for his alleged role in the illegal poker operation

The son of late Gambino captain Angelo ‘Quack Quack’ Ruggiero Sr (pictured) was also arrested by the FBI over his alleged involvement in the rigged poker games

Meanwhile, Gambino mobster Lee Fama was also arrested by the FBI and been accused of getting proceeds from the rigged poker games.

In an explosive press conference on Thursday, United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. outlined the breathtaking methods the government claims were used by New York’s infamous Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese and Luchese crime families to rig the games. 

It is alleged that they would use X-ray tables to tilt games in their favor and wear special high-tech contact lenses to read pre-marked cards. 

Nocella Jr. said: ‘The defendants used a variety of very sophisticated cheating technologies, some of which were provided by other defendants in exchange for a share of the profits from the scheme’.

The FBI, who have been investigating for four years, later claimed defendants allegedly robbed a victim at gunpoint in order to acquire a rigged shuffling machine. They say victims have lost at least $7million.

The second case involves 31 defendants in an alleged nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games, Nocella said, including Billups.  

Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year. The five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA point guard led the Detroit Pistons to their third league title in 2004 as NBA Finals MVP. Boston drafted the former Colorado star with the No. 3 pick overall in 1997. 

The player, known as Mr. Big Shot, also played for Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the indictments in a press conference on Thursday 

The Mafia allegedly used X-ray tables and high-tech contact lenses to read people’s cards

The 49-year-old Billups is in his fifth season as Portland’s coach, compiling a 117-212 record. The Trail Blazers opened the season Wednesday night at home with a 118-114 loss to Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Jones is also named in a separate indictment alongside Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, which accuses them of turning professional basketball into a criminal sports betting operation.

Six defendants are accused of participating in an alleged insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams, said Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. 

He called it ‘one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.’