Vegas man arrested over Porter betting scheme

A Las Vegas man was charged in connection with an illegal betting scheme involving Jontay Porter, the former Toronto Raptors player who admitted to manipulating his performance for gambling purposes and who 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 bought a one-way ticket to Colombia and was attempting to board a flight when he was apprehended. Law enforcement agents found multiple cell phones and just under $10,000 in cash, according to the filing.

He appeared in federal court 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 gamblers and placed bets through proxies.

Porter pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy crime in July and is awaiting sentencing. He told a court that he participated in the scam "to get out from under 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 laid out in the document match his case.

According to the complaint, Porter sustained 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 co-conspirators, "I went back to locker room to get eye checked on. Idk if imma play much more. I'm Not starting second half. But if it's garbage time I will shoot a million shots."

Hennen received a screenshot of these texts, along with the information that Porter would withdraw early from a Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, according to the complaint. Prosecutors said a co-conspirator told Hennen on Jan. 26 to "call 911" and forwarded another message from Porter that read, "Hit unders for the big numbers. I told [a co-conspirator] no blocks no steals. I'm going to play first 2-3 minute stint off the bench then when I get subbed out tell them my eye killing me again."

Hennen also received screenshots of two betting slips with wagers on the under on Porter's performance during the Jan. 26 game, according to the document. One $29,382 parlay on the under on Porter's rebounds and points would pay out $103,387.

Prosecutors allege that Hennen bet on the under on Porter's performance through proxies. After the Jan. 26 game, Hennen texted a co-conspirator, "We got lucky," according to the complaint.

Hennen was also told that Porter would remove himself from a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings, citing illness. In one text, a conspirator told Hennen, "Please don't leak it." Prosecutors allege Hennen then provided the inside information to other bettors.

Federal authorities asked for Hennen to be detained, saying he was a potential flight risk and citing his criminal history, which includes aggravated assault and drug distribution charges. Hennen is a known gambler in Las Vegas, who plays poker and bets on sports. In the detention letter, federal prosecutors said they had "substantial evidence that the defendant has conducted or caused to be conducted illicit financial transactions and fraudulent sports wagers totaling millions of dollars."