Banned NBA player Jontay Porter admits to $1 million gambling scheme and pleads guilty

Banned NBA player Johntay Porter has admitted to tipping off gamblers in the $1 million scheme that resulted in his lifetime suspension from the league.

The 24-year-old former Toronto Raptors forward pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and will owe nearly $500,000 in fines and restitution.

Porter claims he made bets and schemed with others ‘in order to get out from under gambling debt.’

As he said in Brooklyn federal Judge James R. Cho’s courtroom on Wednesday: ‘I know what I did was wrong and unlawful, and I’m deeply sorry.’

Prosecutors have reco0mmended a stiff sentence between 41 and 51 months in prison. Porter is currently out on $250,000 bond, which has been insured by his family. Porter is also required to attend gambling counselling.