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Long Phi Pham, also known as Bruce Pham,
pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud, admitting
that he schemed to con sports betting companies, according to
prosecutors and a court document. He could face anything from a
no-jail punishment to 20 years in prison at his sentencing, set
for April 25 in a Brooklyn, New York, federal court.
Messages seeking comment were sent to his attorneys.
Pham and three other men were charged in June with plotting to
cash in on from a player's secret plans to claim illness to pull
out of two games early. The withdrawals ensured a payout for
anyone who bet on him to underperform expectations.
The complaint didn’t name the player, but details made clear it
was Porter, whom the NBA banned for life in April after
conducting its own investigation.
One of Pham's co-defendants induced the athlete to withdraw from
games, according to a court complaint. The document said the
conspirators were on track to collect over $1 million — and
share some with the player — before a betting company smelled a
rat and blocked collection of a lot of the money.
Pham, who is in his 30s, was arrested as he boarded a flight to
Australia with roughly $12,000 in cash, days after learning
about the investigation, prosecutors said at the time. They
suggested the Brooklyn resident was trying to elude their reach,
but his lawyer said Pham was a professional poker player and was
traveling for a tournament.
Porter, who was last with the Toronto Raptors, pleaded guilty in
July to wire fraud conspiracy. He told a court that his own
gambling debts drove him to bench himself so conspirators could
win bets.
Porter withdrew from two games last winter after playing only a
few minutes and saying he was hurt or sick. On both occasions,
his points, rebounds and assists fell below sportsbooks’
predictions.
He is now awaiting sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 18.
Pham's three co-defendants have yet to enter pleas.
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