Poker case: prosecutors to offer formal plea deals to 12 defendants, filing says

In a brief filed Tuesday, prosecutors said they expect to extend formal plea agreements to 12 of the 31 defendants and are “reasonably optimistic” they can reach deals with nine others before the case goes to trial.

All defendants are due in federal court Wednesday, after the previous status hearing on Nov. 24, when the defense was allowed to review the evidence under a court protective order.

The filing says the evidence includes body-worn camera footage, arrest-related records, electronic material from devices and Apple iCloud accounts, more than 100,000 pages of financial and phone records, surveillance photos, and pole-camera video from a Manhattan location tied to the alleged games.

The brief did not name specific defendants or indicate whether Billups is considering a deal. Billups has been on unpaid administrative leave from the Portland Trail Blazers since his arrest, pleaded not guilty in November, and sources told ESPN he has been living in the Denver area after posting $5 million bail.

Source: ESPN (Ramona Shelburne)