Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges stemming from a sweeping gambling investigation that uncovered schemes to defraud sportsbooks and high-stakes poker players.

Jones is the first individual to enter a guilty plea among more than 30 people arrested in the federal sweep, which included alleged organized crime figures and other basketball personalities. Appearing in Brooklyn federal court for back-to-back hearings, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

During the proceedings, Jones admitted to using his professional connections to access nonpublic information regarding player injuries. Prosecutors alleged that, between December 2022 and March 2024, Jones provided "insider information" to bettors about the health status of stars, specifically mentioning LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while he was an unofficial coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association," Jones told the court while reading a prepared statement. He acknowledged that his actions violated the league’s code of conduct and the terms of service for various legal betting platforms.

In a separate hearing, Jones admitted his role in a sophisticated poker scheme in which he served as a "face card." Prosecutors said Jones used his celebrity status to attract wealthy bettors to games in Miami and the Hamptons. Those games were allegedly rigged using hidden cameras, X-ray equipment, and altered shuffling machines to cheat participants out of more than $9.5 million.

Jones admitted he was aware the games were fraudulent, stating he knew players were being cheated. Court documents revealed Jones was paid thousands of dollars to participate, at one point allegedly texting co-conspirators that he understood his role in the cheating process.

Federal sentencing guidelines suggest Jones could face 21 to 27 months in prison for the sports betting case. The poker case carries a more severe recommendation of 48 to 63 months, as it involved more than 10 victims and significant financial losses. Jones also agreed to forfeit $73,000.

Jones played 11 seasons in the NBA for 10 different teams, including a stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was arrested in October alongside other figures, including Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups. Prosecutors indicated Monday that they are seeking additional charges against Rozier.

Sentencing for Jones is scheduled for Jan. 6 before U.S. District Judges LaShann DeArcy Hall and Ramon Reyes.