Digital evidence stored in iCloud played a key role in exposing a multistate poker-rigging scheme tied to organized crime and NBA players. Here's how, and what evidence was uncovered.

Federal investigators used photos and data stored in iCloud accounts to uncover a multistate poker-rigging scheme involving NBA players and organized crime. Prosecutors said the group relied on modified shuffling machines and subtle signals to manipulate high-stakes games across state lines.

The iCloud data included imagery of key evidence such as an X-ray table used to rig poker games, several DeckMate shufflers disassembled to show their circuit boards, and a computer program that tracked information from the altered machines, reports The New York Post.

According to Bloomberg, texts released by authorities described conversations about managing suspicion during the games. In one exchange, a member warned about unlikely winning streaks and suggested intentionally losing to avoid drawing attention.

The FBI has currently arrested 31 people related to the case. Of those named, 13 are reputed mob figures, including Angelo Ruggiero Jr., son of late Gambino captain Angelo "Quack Quack" Ruggiero Sr., a longtime associate of John Gotti.

There are also athletes involved. Chauncey Billups, the Portland Trail Blazers coach, and Damon "Dee Jones" Jones, a former NBA player, have been arrested. At least two professional poker players, Saul Becher and Lee Fama, have been arrested.

The case serves to remind would-be ne'er-do-wells that information stored in an iCloud account isn't necessarily secure. Apple will not unlock your iPhone for investigators, but it will hand over your iCloud backups, if any exist.

Apple is clear about iCloud backup data and what it provides to law enforcement with a subpoena in support documentation about Apple Platform Security.

"If the user has enabled iCloud Backup, the CloudKit Service Key used for the Messages in iCloud container is backed up to iCloud to allow the user to recover their messages even if they have lost access to iCloud Keychain and their trusted devices," it says. Apple can and will provide this Service Key to law enforcement.

If you turn off this iCloud Backup feature, then a new encryption key is generated on your device "to protect future messages." This isn't stored by Apple.

AppleInsider will be looking more into what's been discovered from iCloud this as the case progresses.