By PHILIP MARCELO, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers coach, basketball Hall of Famer and former Denver Nuggets player Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving several Mafia figures and at least one other former NBA player.

Feds allege Chauncey Billups was ‘face card’ in high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker scam

The five-time All Star, who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, was arraigned in a federal court in New York City on money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges, both of which carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. Some of Billups’ co-defendants are also charged with running an illegal gambling business and engaging in an extortion conspiracy.

Chris Heywood, h

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