Former Toronto Raptors star Jontay Porter is facing four years in prison for wire fraud after admitting to fixing matches to get out from under an extensive gambling debt. He was banned from playing in the NBA for life in April 2024.
Now, the texts which Porter sent to his co-conspirator during Raptors games have been revealed. The recipient in question is Shane Hennen, who was arrested Sunday morning at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, leading to the publishing of the texts. Police have also charged three other men in the case.
if it’s garbage time I will shoot a million shots,”
The Raptors star removed himself from games so his betting accomplices could win unders wagers. In one particularly notable text, Porter told Hennen that he had an eye injury and did not expect to start the second half of the game. “But if it’s garbage time I will shoot a million shots,” Porter added.
In another text message, Porter said: “Hit unders for the big numbers. I told [co-conspirator 2] no blocks no steals. I’m going to play first 2-3 minute stint off the bench then when I get subbed out tell them my eye killing me again.” According to The Athletic, Hennen followed Porter’s orders, hitting the unders on two betting slips via a $29,382 parlay.
Porter’s sentencing was meant to take place last month but has been pushed back to May this year. The defense has cited Porter’s gambling addiction as a mitigating factor in the case.