Lawyer Declines Comment on Sports Betting Scandal Involving Ex-NBA Player Jontay Porter

Soshnick also did not confirm whether Pham knows Porter, who was implicated by the NBA for providing inside information to bettors and placing bets on games in which he did not play.

Charges and Allegations

Pham and three unnamed co-defendants are charged with conspiracy to defraud a sports betting company. According to a federal court complaint in Brooklyn, the group placed wagers based on information provided by an NBA player, referred to as “Player 1,” who would feign illness or injury to limit his participation in games. This strategy allowed the conspirators to bet on underperformance, which paid off when the player exited games early.

The complaint details match the findings of the NBA’s investigation into Porter. The league concluded that Porter had informed bettors about his health status and deliberately exited games to influence betting outcomes. Porter also allegedly placed bets on NBA games in which he did not participate. Porter has not commented on these allegations, and current contact information for him or his representatives is unavailable.

Legal Proceedings for Long Phi Pham

Pham, who also goes by the name Bruce, is described as a professional poker player. He was arrested at Brooklyn’s JFK Airport while preparing to board a flight to Australia with $12,000 in cash. His attorney claims the trip was for a poker tournament, while prosecutors argue it was an attempt to flee the country after becoming aware of the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Weintraub opposed bail for Pham, citing a text message Pham sent suggesting he anticipated being arrested at the airport. Despite these concerns, U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Pollak agreed to release Pham on a $750,000 bond, under strict conditions including home detention with an ankle monitor and support from four relatives and a friend who signed the bond.

Pham remains in custody pending the completion of paperwork and other procedural steps. His lawyer, Soshnick, assured the court that Pham would comply with all release conditions.