A new development has emerged regarding the gambling scandal involving former Toronto Raptors big man Jontay Porter.

38-year-old Long Phi Pham was arrested on Monday, June 3, after attempting to board a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Australia on a one-way ticket, as Kyle Schnitzer of The New York Post reported.

Pham is alleged to have collaborated with Porter in placing prop bets, and he was nabbed one day after federal investigators tried to interview him.

Upon his apprehension, he was found in possession of a bag containing $12,000 in cash, two cashier's checks totaling $80,000, and numerous betting slips.

Subsequently, on Tuesday, June 4, Pham was formally charged with wire fraud and could face up to 20 years in prison.

Jontay Porter reportedly had to throw games due to deep debt

Porter had reportedly accumulated a massive gambling debt to associates, and he was prompted to settle those debts by influencing game outcomes to ensure specific bets would succeed.

The 6-foot-10 player intentionally removed himself from multiple games, feigning injury and illness. In April 2024, the 24-year-old received a lifetime ban from the NBA for breaching league regulations.

These violations included disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his involvement in games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA contests.