Sports betting scandal investigation leads to sixth arrest

January 14, 2025
By
Leer en Español

Authorities allege that ex-NBA player Jontay Porter sent texts explaining plans to bench himself.

Key points:

- Prop bet abnormalities surrounding Porter last year prompted the investigation

- Shane Hennen was arrested in Las Vegas and was preliminarily charged with wire fraud conspiracy

Six people have now been charged in connection with the sports betting scandal involving former NBA player Jontay Porter, according to an Associated Press report.

Shane Hennen was arrested Sunday at the Las Vegas airport while boarding a flight to Panama, the AP report said. Preliminary charges included wire fraud conspiracy.

The arrest led to authorities releasing information on a text message allegedly sent by Porter, “explaining how to cash in on his plans to bench himself in a January 2024 game.”

Prior to his dismissal from the NBA, Porter played center for the Toronto Raptors. The NBA began looking into prop bet abnormalities surrounding the player last spring.

Recent reports show that DraftKings Sportsbook has flagged prop bets in two specific games. According to the report, these prop bets “involved Porter in its daily betting insights.

Good to know: Porter pleaded guilty in the criminal case, resulting in a lifetime ban from the NBA

On January 26, DraftKings reported that “users betting the under on Porter three-pointers were the biggest moneymakers among all NBA player prop betting that day.”

DraftKings also noted that Porter prop betters walked away with large winnings on March 20.

Porter left the game early on both days, according to a CNN report. He logged only four minutes of play during the January 26 game and did not attempt any three-point shots.

During the March 20 game, Porter left the game early due to illness and played for three minutes. He did not score any points during the game. During normal gameplay, Porter averaged nearly 14 minutes on the court during the game.

Following his arraignment earlier this week, Hennen was released without bail.

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