Federal prosecutors say Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups participated in rigged poker games, using his celebrity status to attract gamblers to play in games fixed by organized crime figures.

Billups was among more than 30 people indicted Thursday in two separate cases involving NBA figures. The other case, which apparently did not involve Billups, allegedly used insider information to bet on basketball games.

Prosecutors would not say whether there was any link between the two cases. They said Billups was due to be arranged Thursday morning in Portland. He’s accused of money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy.

Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said Mafia organizations attracted gamblers, whom they called “fish,” to play in rigged poker games involving former pro athlet

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