NBA gambling plotter pleads guilty to fixing Jontay Porter games

BROOKLYN (CN) — A Queens man charged in the NBA betting scheme that ended former Toronto Raptor center Jontay Porter’s career pleaded guilty Thursday to federal wire fraud and bribery conspiracy charges.

Ammar Awawdeh, 34, admitted under an agreement with the government to a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery.

According to prosecutors, Porter amassed “significant gambling debts” to Awawdeh, who encouraged Porter to “clear those debts” by exiting prematurely from two games so Awawdeh could broker fixed bets on the player’s underperformance.

In the wake of the scandal, Porter was banned for life from the NBA. He pleaded guilty in July 2024 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His sentencing has been delayed for nearly two years, but he faces up to four years in prison at his sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 10.

Taking a deep breath before reading a statement from his plea agreement, Awawdeh told the court he “knowingly and intentionally agreed” to the criminal conspiracies described in his indictment.

“I knew that one of the participants had access to confidential, nonpublic information concerning an NBA player’s expected participation in certain games,” he said. “I agreed with others that wagers would be placed based upon that confidential information, including wages on the ‘under’ for the player’s statistical performance.”

Porter exited early from two games under the scheme, one on Jan. 26, 2024, against the Los Angeles Clippers and a second game on March 20, 2024, against the Sacramento Kings.

The top count against Awawdeh carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Awawdeh said he has been seeing a gambling therapist for more than two years.

Following the hearing, Awawdeh’s attorney Mark Lesko pointed to to his client’s gambling addiction.

“Mr. Awawdeh has a severe gambling addiction. It’s among the most severe gambling addictions a very experienced therapist has ever seen. He takes full responsibility for his actions,” Lesko said. “This case is a prime example of the pervasive effect of sports gambling on our society. It’s ubiquitous. It’s everywhere. Kids are doing it.”

Awawdeh is also charged in a separate Brooklyn federal court case involving players involving NBA players and members of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese crime families, who are accused of running rigged high-stakes poker games with the players — including Portland Trail Blazers head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups. Awawdeh has also been linked to the ongoing gambling investigations into former NBA players Malik Beasleyand Terry Rozier.

Lesko said Awawdeh hopes to resolve the separate charges soon.

The popularity of so-called prop bets has exploded in recent years and extends well beyond the sports world. An hour before Thursday’s hearing began, for instance, news broke that President Donald Trump’s longtime teleprompter operator made more than $100,000 by placing bets on Trump’s speeches using the prediction market Kalshi.

Follow @NinaPullano Follow @ninapullano.bsky.social