Recent reports indicated that former Raptors center Jontay Porter would receive his sentencing on Wednesday, December 18, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
However, this date would later be confirmed as inaccurate, as noted by Mark Carcasole of CBC News Network and subsequently verified by John Chidley-Hill of The Canadian Press.
Ex-Raptor Jontay Porter to recieve criminal sentencing in Spring 2025
Former Toronto Raptors center JONTAY PORTER will NOT be sentenced today after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Last month, his sentencing was quietly adjourned to May 20, 2025 to allow for various court submissions related to his sentencing.
— Mark Carcasole (@MarkCarcCBC) December 18, 2024
Last season, Jontay Porter emerged as a promising two-way success story for the Toronto Raptors, averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over 26 games played for the franchise. This rise would swiftly give way to a fall of unforeseen magnitudes when it became clear that Porter was deliberately rigging his performances to profit from his player props.
A broader gambling ring was uncovered, revealing Porter to be the mastermind behind its operations, which encouraged substantial wagers on his propositions. Notably, he left two games last season—on January 26 and March 20—under suspicious circumstances due to an undisclosed "illness".
In those games, he would only spend enough time on the court to ensure a betting prop would cash, score no points, and then exit the game, all while intending to go unnoticed. Unfortunately for Porter, this situation has undeniably attracted widespread attention—not just in the NBA; he is facing significant criminal consequences when his case concludes in the spring of 2025.
Regarding his NBA aspirations, they would be dashed, as the league would impose a lifetime ban on Jontay Porter following the revelation of his gambling violations.
In an official news release published by the NBA this past April, league commissioner Adam Silver addressed the Jontay Porter situation with the following statement:
"There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment. While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game."NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
The precise nature of Jontay Porter's punishment for his crimes remains uncertain. However, recent insights from legal experts indicate that a prison sentence is likely to be the minimum penalty imposed.
The duration of Porter’s potential sentence remains unclear, leaving many questions unanswered about the outcome of his case. A previous CNN article cited a maximum sentence of 20 years for wire fraud.
Porter remains free for the time being after being released on a $250,000 bond, which was signed by his wife and mother in July.