The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has recovered text messages sent from someone believed to be Jontay Porter to another individual allegedly involved in the NBA betting scandal during a game last year.
In court documents obtained by The Athletic, Porter would inform one of his co-conspirators of plans to alter his availability and that information was shared with Shane Hennen, who was arrested at a Las Vegas airport Sunday for his involvement in the scheme.
Hennen has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Hennen allegedly received word from two co-conspirators that Porter was going to leave the Jan. 26 game early with an injury. The person who sent this information to Hennen has already pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Four days earlier, Porter sent text messages to another person during a Jan. 22 game, which said he went back to the locker room to get his “eye checked on” and was unsure if he would “play much more.”
Porter also wrote that if he were to return in “garbage time,” a period of time towards the end of the game where the score is well out of reach for the losing team, he was going to “shoot a million shots.”
“Hit unders for the big numbers. I told [Co-Conspirator 2] no blocks no steals. I’m going to play first 2-3 minute stint off the bench then when I get subbed out tell them my eye killing me again,” Porter allegedly wrote to Hennen in another message.
Prosecutors believe Hennen was also informed that Porter intended on leaving the March 20 game early and asked to not share that information with anyone else. He still told others.
Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA for violating the league’s gambling policy in April.
Photo Credit: Craig Dudek Photo Credit: Craig Dudek This article contains references to products from our advertisers and/or partners, and…
At this stage in the 2024-2025 NBA season, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is expected to land his first All-Star big. Through two fan vote returns, Cunni
Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesIt is no secret that Jimmy Butler wants to be traded. He reportedly told Miami Heat president and minority governor as much, to his fac
Amazon Prime Video is closing in on a deal to make Kevin Harlan its No. 2 NBA play-by-player when it begins coverage of the league later this year, sources brie