Long Phi Pham, also known by his alias “Bruce,” has been apprehended and ordered to remain in custody until his trial, according to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office. Pham, identified as one of the top 1% of poker players globally, was arraigned on Tuesday at which details of his alleged involvement in a high-stakes betting scheme were made public.
Pham’s arrest took place on Monday at JFK International Airport as he attempted to board a one-way flight to Australia. He now faces serious allegations of wire fraud. When arrested, Pham was found carrying approximately $92,000 in cash and cashier’s checks, three cell phones, and several betting slips.
The complaint against Pham also names three co-conspirators who have yet to be detained. While Porter isn’t explicitly mentioned in the complaint, a “Player 1” is referenced, and the timeline of the bets aligns with the period during which Porter’s key bets occurred leading to his lifetime ban from professional basketball. The exact amount of Porter’s gambling debt remains undisclosed.
Details in the complaint lay out a scheme devised by Pham and ex-Toronto Raptor Porter to manipulate Porter’s performance in specific basketball games for financial gain through prop bets. As the scheme unfolded, Porter reportedly expressed concerns about facing a racketeering charge, commonly referred to as a “rico” charge. In group messages, he inquired if participants had deleted compromising material from their phones.
It was suggested by Pham’s group that to resolve his gambling debts, Porter should underperform in certain games. At one point, Porter sent Pham a message stating, “If I don’t do a special with your terms. Then it’s up. And u hate me and if I don’t get u 8k by Friday you’re coming to Toronto to beat me up.”
According to the press release from the US Attorney’s Office, Porter was allegedly convinced to settle his gambling debts by intentionally withdrawing from games, thus ensuring the success of prop bets placed on Player 1’s performance to underperform. From January to March 2024, Porter removed himself from games on two occasions.
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On January 26th, Porter claimed to have reaggravated a corneal injury and withdrew from a game against the LA Clippers after only four minutes, recording no points, three rebounds, and one assist. Two significant bets placed by co-conspirators paid off. One of the parlays involved $10,000 and yielded $85,000, while another $7,000 bet returned $40,250.
The second instance occurred on March 20th, when Pham and his partners gathered in Atlantic City and placed “under” bets on Porter’s performance against Sacramento. Before wagering, the conspirators agreed via text messages that Porter would feign illness and step out of the game early. According to their arrangement, Pham and Porter were each set to receive a 24% cut of the winnings. Porter exited the game after three minutes, without scoring any points but securing three rebounds. The bets won by Pham and his associates exceeded $1 million.
Although DraftKings is not directly named in the complaint, it had previously reported suspicious betting activity to the NBA following both the January 26 and March 20 games. The league moved swiftly, issuing Porter a lifetime ban within a month of the second report.
The affidavit reveals that the bets were made at two sportsbooks that hold “co-official sports betting partner” status with the NBA. These partners include DraftKings and FanDuel.
US Attorney Breon Peace stated, “Whether on the court or in the casino, every point matters. As alleged, the defendant and his co-conspirators, as well as an NBA player, participated in a brazen, illegal betting scheme that had a corrupting influence on two games and numerous bets.”
The unfolding scandal not only brings into question the integrity of professional sports but also illuminates the dark underbelly of illegal gambling operations. As investigations continue, the spotlight is on how a world-class poker player’s alleged actions, combined with those of a professional athlete, could dramatically impact the credibility and fairness of competitive sports.
