Miami Heat player Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of assisting gamblers in placing bets on his NBA game performance. The 31-year-old point guard entered the plea during his arraignment in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, facing wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. He was released on a $3 million US bond secured by his Florida home.
Prosecutors allege that Rozier conspired with friends to manipulate bets on his performance during a March 2023 game with the Charlotte Hornets. Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky instructed Rozier not to gamble, possess firearms, or contact victims, co-defendants, and witnesses. Additionally, Rozier surrendered his passport and is limited to travel between Florida, Ohio, and New York with prior approval.
Appearing in court in a gray suit, Rozier only responded to the judge’s questions with “yes” or “no.” He and his lawyer, Jim Trusty, chose not to comment after the hearing. Rozier was set to attend a pretrial hearing with his co-defendants and prosecutors later that day. His attorney previously refuted the charges, emphasizing Rozier’s stance as a non-gambler.
The federal crackdown on illegal gambling operations related to professional sports has led to the arrest of over 30 individuals, including Mafia affiliates. NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, now coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, also pleaded not guilty in a separate scheme involving fixing Mafia-backed illegal poker games.
Rozier allegedly informed bettors of his plan to exit a game against the New Orleans Pelicans early due to a fake injury, enabling them to place profitable wagers. He played less than 10 minutes before leaving the game citing a foot problem, not returning for the remainder of the season.
Another NBA personality implicated in the investigation is Damon Jones, who pleaded not guilty to providing insider injury information on LeBron James and Anthony Davis while assisting the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-2023 season. Jones, a former NBA player, is implicated in the poker scheme alongside Billups and others.
As their legal proceedings unfold, both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave by their respective teams. Rozier, with a decade-long NBA career and earnings totaling around $160 million, was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2015 and traded to the Heat by the Charlotte Hornets last year.
