NBA Player Terry Rozier Denies Charges in Betting Scandal
Terry Rozier, a point guard for the Miami Heat, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The allegations against Rozier involve assisting gamblers in placing bets on his performance in NBA games.
Prosecutors allege that Rozier, 31, conspired with acquaintances to profit from wagers made on his March 2023 performance while he was with the Charlotte Hornets. During the arraignment, Rozier, dressed in a gray suit, was released on a $3 million bond backed by his real estate holdings in Florida. He has been instructed to abstain from gambling, avoid firearms, and refrain from contacting any victims, co-defendants, or witnesses involved in the case. His travel is restricted to Florida, Ohio, and New York unless otherwise permitted.
After the proceedings, Rozier chose not to make any statements, but his attorney, Jim Trusty, commented that Rozier is “excited” to defend himself against these accusations. Trusty also hinted at plans to file a motion to dismiss the case on constitutional grounds and requested a swift trial timeline, citing Rozier’s involvement in multiple legal challenges, including arbitration with the NBA.
Despite these requests, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall emphasized that NBA-related arbitration is irrelevant to the court’s schedule. The next hearing is scheduled for March 3, as prosecutors prepare to share a “voluminous” amount of evidence, including over 1,000 documents and 55 gigabytes of data.
This case is part of a broader federal crackdown on illegal gambling within professional sports, which has led to the arrest of over 30 individuals, including figures linked to organized crime. Among others implicated is Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, who faces separate charges related to rigging Mafia-backed poker games.
The charges against Rozier stem from an incident where he reportedly informed bettors of his plan to exit a game against the New Orleans Pelicans early due to a purported injury. This information allowed gamblers to place profitable bets. Rozier participated in the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game, citing a foot injury, and did not return for the remainder of the season.
Another NBA figure entangled in the investigation is Damon Jones, who has also pleaded not guilty to charges of providing nonpublic information about player injuries to gamblers. Jones, a former NBA player, allegedly shared updates on stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis while working unofficially with the Los Angeles Lakers. Both Jones and Billups face additional charges in the separate poker game fixing scheme.
As legal proceedings continue, both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave by their respective teams. Over his decade-long NBA career, Rozier has accumulated earnings of approximately $160 million. Originally a first-round draft pick for the Boston Celtics in 2015, Rozier was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Heat last year.
For further updates, follow Philip Marcelo on social media.
