Las Vegas man arrested in connection with Jontay Porter’s betting scheme

A Las Vegas man has been charged in connection with an illegal betting scheme involving Jontay Porter, the former Toronto Raptors player who admitted manipulating his performance for gambling purposes and was banned from the NBA.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Shane Hennen, 39, was arrested Sunday morning at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. His first appearance in federal court is scheduled for Monday.

ESPN has reached out to 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 gamblers and placed bets through proxies.

Porter pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy in July and is awaiting sentencing. He told the court that he took part in the scam “to avoid large gambling debts.” Four other men were charged as part of the scheme, two of whom pleaded guilty.

Porter is not named in the lawsuit against Hennen, but the details laid out in the document are consistent with his case.

According to the complaint, on January 22, 2024, during the Raptors’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Porter suffered an eye injury and was diagnosed with a corneal abrasion. During that game, Porter texted two co-conspirators: “I went back to the locker room to get an eye exam. I don’t know if I’ll play much more. I won’t start in the second half. But when the time is bad, I’ll fire a million shots.”

Hennen received a screenshot of those texts as well as information that Porter was withdrawing early from a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 26, according to the complaint. Prosecutors said a co-conspirator instructed Hennen to call “911” on Jan. 26 and forwarded another message from Porter that said, “Unders are the ones to call for the big numbers.” I told (a co-conspirator) no blockades, no thefts. That’s what I do.” I’ll play the first two or three minutes from the bench and then when I’m substituted I’ll tell them that my eye killed me again.

According to the document, Hennen also received screenshots of two betting slips with bets on Porter’s performance during the Jan. 26 game. A $29,382 bet on the under of Porter’s rebounds and points would pay out $103,387.

Prosecutors allege Hennen bet through proxies on Porter’s performance. After the game on Jan. 26, Hennen texted a co-conspirator: “We got lucky,” the complaint says.

Hennen was also informed that Porter would withdraw from a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings due to illness. In one text, a conspirator said to Hennen: “Please don’t tell.” The public prosecutor’s office accuses Hennen of then passing on the inside information to other bettors.