In Brooklyn, federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Ramon E. Reyes Jr. on July 14 to schedule change-of-plea hearings for 12 defendants in the alleged underground poker-rigging case. The filing says each is expected to plead guilty to Count One of the indictment.
The 12 named defendants are Nelson Alvarez, Louis Apicella, John Gallo, Marco Garzon, Jamie Gilet, Shane Hennen, Horatio Hu, Zhen Hu, Nicholas Minucci, Michael Renzulli, Angelo Ruggiero Jr. and Julius Ziliani.
ReadWrite reported that the case traces to an indictment unsealed in October 2025 that charged 31 people and alleged the conspiracy had operated since at least 2019. The indictment says the conduct amounted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and described recurring Manhattan poker locations at Washington Place and Lexington Avenue, with Washington Place identified as the central hub, and alleged ties to members and associates of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese crime families.
East Bay Times described the alleged cheating in detail. It said the operation used a modified automatic card shuffler that predicted which player had the best hand and sent that information to an off-site operator, who texted the 'quarterback’ or 'driver’ at the table on how to bet. The newspaper also said prosecutors alleged an X-ray table, a poker chip tray with hidden cameras, and special contact lenses and glasses were used to read pre-marked cards.
The same reporting said the group used pro ballers as 'face cards’ to lure in high-rollers who wanted to play poker with NBA stars. It reported that the schemers drained about $7 million from would-be victims, while prosecutors had previously estimated losses at more than $7.15 million. The paper also said Shane 'Sugar Shane’ Hennen is a betting influencer with about 70,000 Instagram followers, that Damon Jones pleaded guilty in April, and that charges remain pending against Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.
Yahoo Sports reported separately that prosecutors also allege celebrities, including Hall of Fame point guard Chauncey Billups, were used to draw players to the games.
Front Office Sports reported that Hennen is also a defendant in a parallel case alleging gamblers profited by betting on NBA games using inside information, and that Terry Rozier is another defendant there. The outlet said the filing likely means the charges against Hennen in that betting case will be dropped after sentencing, though it would not by itself make him a cooperator. It also said 19 of the 31 defendants in the poker case have now either pleaded guilty or agreed to do so, and that Jones agreed in April to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud in each case. The government has not said when the hearings will be scheduled.
