Jontay Porter, a former Raptors big man, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a federal felony charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as reported by Jennifer Peltz of The Associated Press.
“I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry,” Porter stated. He was released on a $250,000 bond, signed by his mother and wife, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Porter’s sentencing is scheduled for December 18 in New York.
Prosecutors estimate that Porter could face 41 to 51 months in prison, but the final decision will be made by a judge, who could impose no time or up to a maximum of 20 years. The 24-year-old is also likely to be fined “hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution and fines,” per Peltz.
Porter informed the court that he is undergoing therapy and has received inpatient rehabilitation for a gambling addiction. He was banned from the NBA in April following an investigation into betting-related irregularities.
Porter is also implicated in another federal case involving four men charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The defendants are accused of profiting from prop bets based on the knowledge that Porter would exit a pair of games early. The complaint alleges that Porter, who isn’t identified by name but matches the description of the player involved, was supposed to receive a portion of the winnings. He was reportedly pressured by one of the defendants due to outstanding gambling debts. The four defendants have yet to enter pleas.
In 26 games for Toronto during the 2023-24 season, Porter averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 13.8 minutes per game. He earned $415,000 last season while on a two-way contract with the Raptors.
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