A federal judge in Brooklyn sentenced Timothy McCormack to two years in prison on Wednesday, marking the first prison term handed down in the sweeping NBA betting scandal that has implicated several players and shaken the league’s integrity.
McCormack, a 38-year-old self-described gambling addict, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after admitting he used nonpublic insider information to place highly profitable wagers on player performance prop bets.
Prosecutors had pushed for a four-year sentence, describing the scheme as “cold, hard fraud,” but Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall opted for the lighter term, citing McCormack’s long-standing addiction as a mitigating factor.
“I’ve struggled with a gambling addiction for more than half my life,” McCormack said at his sentencing.
His role in the scheme has been described as a proxy bettor, working in conjunction with the larger figures more central to the cases. One might assume that those alleged larger figures would receive much harsher sentences.
“He has an addiction,” federal Judge Hall said. “I don’t believe the conduct Mr. McCormack engaged in defines him.”
Timothy McCormack, describing himself as a gambling addict, was sentenced to two years in federal prison Wednesday.
— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPow3ll) January 22, 2026
It marks the first sentencing in a large-scale conspiracy case that includes NBA players Terry Rozier and Jontay Porter.
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First Prison Sentence Issued in the Massive NBA Betting Scandal
The conspiracy centered on defrauding sports betting platforms through coordinated efforts involving NBA players who allegedly provided or acted on confidential game details, such as intentional underperformance or early exits to hit specific prop lines.
McCormack placed bets tied to actions by players, including former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter—who received a lifetime NBA ban—and current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who has pleaded not guilty to related wire fraud and money laundering charges and is on unpaid leave from the team.
McCormack expressed remorse, but is required to report to prison by April 20 and will face one year of supervised release afterward, during which gambling will be prohibited.
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McCormack’s case stems from federal arrests on October 23 that also ensnared Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Rozier, and others, including former player and ex-coach Damon Jones.
The sprawling allegations in that case included game-fixing, stat-fixing, and rigged poker games.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr. has described it as “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”
This sentencing represents a significant milestone in the ongoing federal investigation, which has exposed vulnerabilities in legalized sports betting and raised broader questions about corruption in professional athletics.
While McCormack’s case resolves one chapter, multiple defendants—including high-profile names—remain charged, and authorities continue probing the full scope of the ring. The league has recently requested cell phones and documents from personnel across multiple teams. And the probe is roping in some individuals linked to some major stars.
The independent inquiry’s request for cell phones and associated records, according to several sources who spoke to The Athletic, involves individuals associated with more than one team. One such team is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Why are the Lakers highlighted in that report?
Lakers staffers Mike Mancias (LeBron James’s longtime assistant trainer) and Randy Mims (executive administrator and another James associate) have voluntarily surrendered their phones and records. They are being scrutinized over their connections to the scandal.
It’s important to note that James is not considered involved in any way. Mancias and Mims are reportedly being scrutinized due to their relationship with Jones. An NBA spokesman emphasized that such preservation requests are standard and that all parties involved have been fully cooperative.
The widening scope signals the investigation is poised to intensify further, as predicted by Bounding Into Sports, with potential congressional interest adding pressure.
Last week, federal prosecutors unsealed a major indictment charging 26 individuals in what authorities describe as a widespread, transnational criminal conspiracy to fix men’s basketball games at the NCAA Division I level and in China’s professional league (CBA).
This latest developing story is part of an ongoing FBI investigation, and additional arrests, convictions, or details may emerge.