In a court proceeding on October 2, 38-year-old Long Phi Pham of Vietnamese descent pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of New York Federal Court in Brooklyn. Pham admitted to conspiring with former NBA player Jontay Porter to engage in illegal sports betting activities, acknowledging his role in a wire fraud conspiracy that could lead to a prison sentence exceeding four years.

Pham was arrested in June along with three accomplices, all accused of colluding with Porter, who allegedly racked up substantial gambling debts related to the Toronto Raptors. The group is said to have plotted to fix games during two specific matches on January 26 and March 20, enabling them to meet betting requirements imposed by gambling companies and secure significant illicit profits.

Prosecutors revealed that Porter had agreed to exit two games early for medical reasons, giving Pham and his associates advance notice so they could place hefty bets based on his anticipated underperformance. In the January 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Porter played merely four minutes, finishing with zero points, three rebounds, and one assist, citing an aggravated eye injury. He also left the March 20 game after three minutes, which triggered an NBA investigation that ultimately culminated in his lifetime ban from the league.

Known as one of the top 1% of poker players globally, Pham had previously appeared in court in June, where he pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in July. According to federal sentencing guidelines, he faces a potential prison term of 41 to 51 months when he is sentenced on December 18. After being formally charged, Pham was released on a $750,000 bond.

Leaving the courtroom, Pham chose not to comment and avoided questions regarding how he first met Porter.