Former Detroit Pistons guard and Portland Trailblazers coach Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty in federal court on Monday in Brooklyn as part of the criminal case alleging his involvement in a Mafia-backed plot to rig illicit poker games .

Billups is alleged to have served as a “face card” for the games, in order to lure unsuspecting high-rollers to join him at poker tables equipped with altered shuffling machines and X-ray technology to rig games against them.

The arraignment for Billups and the 30 other defendants in the case took place on Monday. His defense attorney, Mark Mukasey, entered the plea on Billups’ behalf to U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes.

Billups denies any wrongdoing through his attorneys for the fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges against him.

Reyes say

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