Federal prosecutors have identified Robert L. Stroud, a 67-year-old Louisville man with a violent criminal past, as the mobster who recruited former NBA guard Damon Jones into a sprawling gambling and poker conspiracy, according to an ESPN report.
On the other hand, Eric Earnest, known as “Spook,” and Marves Fairley, known as “Vez” and “Vezino Locks,” were Jones’ co-conspirators that allegedly exploited insider information from Los Angeles Lakers games, according to court documents unsealed Thursday and reviewed by Heavy Sports.
Earnest and Jones were allegedly part of the “cheating teams” in the rigged poker schemes, which operated with Stroud’s help by supplying the high-tech equipment, including the rigged poker shuffling machines.
Stroud — known as “Black Rob” — was named in two federal indictments unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice, which accuse him of serving as the recruiter and equipment supplier for a high-tech betting and poker ring that mixed organized crime, rigged poker games, and NBA insider access.
“In 1994, Stroud killed a man during an evening playing cards and gambling at a home in Louisville,” WAVE News reported, cited by ESPN. Police later found “sports betting cards, dice, playing cards and what appeared to be gambling records” in his car when he was stopped in 2001.
According to prosecutors, Stroud recruited former professional athletes — including Jones, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier — to act as “face cards” and insiders who used their influence to draw wealthy victims into rigged poker games and share confidential player information for profit.
Jones’ Role and Arrest Detailed in Federal Indictment
Jones, 49, was arrested Thursday as part of the sweeping federal betting investigation that also led to the arrests of Billups and Rozier, according to the indictment reviewed by Heavy Sports.
The indictment outlines how Jones allegedly tipped off associates about LeBron James’ availability for a Feb. 9, 2023, Lakers game against the Milwaukee Bucks — information not yet made public at the time. The text message, which prosecutors described as among the most incriminating evidence, shows Jones urging a co-conspirator to place a bet before the injury news was announced.
“Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat too now!!!” the message read, referring to James as “Player 3.”
At the time, James had not been ruled out on the NBA injury report. He ultimately missed the game with a lower-body injury, and the Lakers lost 115–106.
Prosecutors allege that Jones acted on inside information obtained while serving as an unofficial member of the Lakers’ coaching staff under then-head coach Darvin Ham for his individual work with James — a role that, while not formally listed, allegedly gave him access to team operations and player updates.
While James’ name surfaced in connection with the scandal, The Athletic reported that he was completely unaware of Jones’ actions. “A league source with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic that James was unaware that Jones shared information about his playing status,” the outlet said.
Anthony Davis Also Referenced in Leaked Bets
The indictment also accuses Jones of leaking information about another Lakers star — referred to as “Player 4” — ahead of a Jan. 15, 2024, game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to the Justice Department, Jones told bettors that the player — who matches the profile of former Lakers center Anthony Davis — was injured and would play limited minutes. Davis was listed as “probable” but went on to play 35 minutes, posting 27 points and 15 rebounds in a Lakers victory.
Jones allegedly received $2,500 via peer-to-peer payment for the tip, while Fairley wagered $100,000 on the Lakers to lose. After the bet failed, prosecutors said Jones insisted he had received “credible non-public information” after Fairley tried to get back his fee for the tip, through Earnest.
Stroud’s Criminal Network Under Scrutiny
Prosecutors say Stroud provided financial backing for the operation and was deeply involved in rigged poker games that used X-ray-enabled tables, marked cards, and modified shufflers to cheat wealthy participants. The indictment further alleges that Stroud participated in a gunpoint robbery to steal a rival’s rigged poker machine.
FBI Director Kash Patel called the probe “a criminal enterprise that merged professional basketball with organized crime,” adding that investigators uncovered “tens of millions in fraud and theft” tied to Stroud’s network.
Jones faces wire fraud, sports-betting fraud, and conspiracy charges. Neither James nor Davis has been accused of wrongdoing.
The NBA said Thursday that it is cooperating with the investigation. “We are aware of the indictments and are in contact with the relevant authorities,” the league said. “The integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
For the Lakers fans, the revelations mark a stunning twist: a trusted figure in LeBron James’ circle now at the center of one of the most far-reaching NBA gambling scandals in league history.
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