A second individual has stepped forward in the sports betting scandal linked to former NBA player Jontay Porter. On Wednesday, Mahmud Mollah pleaded guilty, marking the third person to admit involvement in this betting scheme.
The conspiracy involved manipulating game outcomes by having Porter intentionally exit games early. This allowed insiders to profit by betting he would score fewer points than sportsbooks predicted.
The Players:
Alongside Porter and Mollah, Long Phi Pham has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Two others have been charged but haven’t entered pleas yet.
Mollah, from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is set for sentencing on May 2 in federal court in Brooklyn and could face anything from probation to up to 20 years in prison.
His attorney, Andrew Levin, declined to comment after inquiries from the Associated Press.
Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP, File/Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP, File
The Details:
The court documents allege Mollah used insider knowledge about Porter’s participation in a March 20 game to place bets that could have netted over $1 million. The conspirators were in line to split the profits, with Porter set to receive 24%. However, a suspicious betting company blocked Mollah from claiming most of the earnings.
About Porter:
The NBA conducted an investigation and subsequently banned Porter for life. In a court proceeding, he stated he participated to escape significant gambling debts.
As reported by Bleacher Report in July, Porter has confessed to conspiracy to commit wire fraud concerning this fallout that ended his NBA career. Depending on the court’s decision, he might face up to four years in prison.
Standing at 6-foot-11, Porter, the younger brother of Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr., went undrafted after college in 2019. He briefly signed with the Memphis Grizzlies but was released in July 2021 after playing only 11 games where he averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds.
Porter’s sentencing hearing is set for December 18.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.