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Portland Trail Blazers head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups was arrested by the FBI and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His arrest came as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling involving a sophisticated, Mafia-backed scheme that rigged high-stakes poker games to defraud unsuspecting players out of millions of dollars. 

The operation is allegedly tied to the Gambino, Bonanno, and Genovese crime families, and saw rigged games take place in Manhattan, The Hamptons, and Las Vegas. Former NBA player Damon Jones and current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were also taken into custody in connection with the case.

On Oct. 23, 2025, FBI Director Kash Patal announced the “historic arrest across a wide-sweeping criminal enterprise that enveloped both the NBA and La Cosa Nostra.”

As fans absorb the shocking news, many want to know more about Chauncey’s life away from the basketball court. Here’s what were know about his wife, Piper Billups, and their children.

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Chauncey and Piper have known each other since high school

Like Chauncey, Piper is also from Denver, Colorado. The two met when they were teenagers and attended George Washington High School.

They dated for years and tied the knot on July 14, 2001.

The pair renewed their vows in Las Vegas in 2013. The ceremony took place overlooking the lake on the grounds of Lotus Court as violinist Bobby Yang serenaded guests. They celebrated the evening at the MGM’s Pearl restaurant, followed by a trip to the Boom Box Room at the Marquee Club in the Cosmopolitan Hotel.  

Piper has a degree in marketing from Metropolitan State College of Denver and today works for a real estate company based out of Colorado.

She and Chauncey also opened a business called Saloon Plaza in Southfield, Michigan, in 2019. 

2 of the Billups’ children work in sports like their dad

The couple has three daughters together.

Their oldest, Cydney, is the Manager of Team and Player Services for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The University of Texas alum previously worked as a coordinator of Team Operations/Family Services for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Their second-born, Ciara, has built a career in sports as well, working as a coordinator for Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports Group agency.

Their youngest daughter, Cenaiya, attended Howard University, where she studied Business Management and has always maintained a lower public profile than her sisters. 

All three siblings set their social media profiles to private following their father’s arrest.

Chauncey’s lawyer has denied the charges against his client

Chaunchey’s attorney, Chris Heywood, told ESPN that his client is a “man of integrity” who intends to fight the allegations against him.

“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others,” Heywood said. “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall-of-Fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game.”