The fallout from the Jontay Porter NBA betting scandal continued on Sunday as poker player Shane Hennen became the sixth person arrested in connection with the case. Hennen was taken into custody at Harry Reid International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Colombia.
Authorities reported that Hennen was carrying nearly $10,000 in cash and multiple phones at the time of his arrest. He claimed his trip to South America was for dental work. Prosecutors, however, intend to charge him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering tied to the alleged betting scheme.
Porter’s Role in the Scandal
The NBA banned Jontay Porter for life in April after determining he leaked insider information to a New York-based gambling syndicate and deliberately underperformed in two games earlier in the year.
According to federal prosecutors, the group bet on Porter’s underperformances during a January 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers and a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings—both losses for the Raptors. Court documents reveal Porter informed the syndicate he would exit both games early, citing injury.
The conspirators stood to gain $1.27 million in winnings through platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel. However, a large portion of these funds was frozen due to suspicious betting patterns flagged by the operators.
Hennen’s Alleged Involvement
Court filings suggest Hennen was aware of Porter’s plans to manipulate the games. He reportedly received direct messages from both Porter and other syndicate members. In one exchange before a game, Porter messaged Hennen, saying:
“Hit unders for the big numbers. I told [Co-Conspirator 2] no blocks no steals. I’m going to play first 2-3 minute stint off the bench then when I get subbed out tell them my eye killing me again.”
Past Poker Controversies
Hennen and another defendant, Long Phi “Bruce” Pham, have previously faced allegations of cheating in high-stakes poker games in Los Angeles in 2023, where they reportedly won millions. While these accusations were never criminally prosecuted, they add to the cloud of suspicion surrounding the pair.
Pham was arrested on June 3 while attempting to leave the country. He was intercepted by the FBI at the airport en route to Australia with $12,000 in cash, $80,000 in cashier’s checks, and three cell phones. Pham denied fleeing, claiming he was headed to a poker tournament in Sydney, although no major events were scheduled at the Star Casino at the time.
Motive and Sentencing
Porter’s participation in the scheme reportedly stemmed from gambling debts he owed to the syndicate. In July, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled for sentencing in May.
This scandal continues to unravel, casting a shadow over professional sports and the integrity of online betting platforms.
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