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David Purdum, ESPN writer
A Las Vegas man has been charged in connection with an illegal betting scheme involving Jontay Porter, the former Toronto Raptors player who admitted to manipulating his performance for betting purposes and was banned from the NBA.
Shane Hennen, 39, was arrested Sunday morning at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. According to a court filing, Hennen purchased a one-way ticket to Colombia and was attempting to board a flight when he was detained. Law enforcement officers found several cell phones and just under $10,000 in cash, according to the filing.
He appeared in federal court on Monday and was released.
ESPN has contacted Hennen’s attorney for comment.
Prosecutors allege that Hennen received information about the scheme from conspirators who were in contact with Porter, distributed the tips to other players and placed bets through proxies.
Porter pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in July and is awaiting sentencing. He told the court that he participated in the scam “to get rid of large gambling debts.” Four other men have been charged as part of the scheme, two of whom have pleaded guilty.
Porter is not named in the complaint against Hennen, but the details set forth in the document match his case.
According to the complaint, Porter suffered an eye injury while playing for the Raptors in a Jan. 22, 2024, game against the Memphis Grizzlies and was diagnosed with a corneal abrasion. During that game, Porter texted two accomplices: “I went back to the locker room to get my eyes checked. I don’t know if I’ll play much longer. I won’t start the second half. But if it’s garbage time, I’ll shoot a million shots.” “. “.
Hennen received a screenshot of these text messages, along with information that Porter would be leaving early from a Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, according to the complaint. Prosecutors said an accomplice told Hennen on Jan. 26 to “call 911” and sent him another message from Porter that said: “Click on the big numbers. I told him [a co-conspirator] no blockages or theft. “I’m going to play the first 2 or 3 minutes from the bench and then when they replace me, I’ll tell them that my eye is killing me again.”
Hennen also received screenshots of two betting slips with bets on at least Porter’s performance during the Jan. 26 game, according to the document. A parlay of $29,382 under Porter’s rebounds and points would pay $103,387.
Prosecutors allege Hennen under-banked Porter’s performance through proxy. After the Jan. 26 game, Hennen texted a co-conspirator: “We got lucky,” according to the complaint.
Hennen was also told that Porter would withdraw from the March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings, citing illness. In one text message, a conspirator told Hennen, “Please don’t leak it.” Prosecutors allege that Hennen then provided inside information to other bettors.
Federal authorities called for Hennen to be detained, saying he was a potential flight risk and citing his criminal record, which includes charges of aggravated assault and drug distribution. Hennen is a well-known gambler in Las Vegas, who plays poker and bets on sports. In the arrest letter, federal prosecutors said they had “substantial evidence that the defendant conducted or caused to be conducted illicit financial transactions and fraudulent sports betting totaling millions of dollars.”
