Miami Heat player Terry Rozier has entered a plea of not guilty to allegations of assisting individuals in placing bets on his performance in NBA games. The 31-year-old point guard made this plea during his arraignment in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, facing charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. He was released on a $3 million bond backed by his Florida home.
According to prosecutors, Rozier collaborated with acquaintances to manipulate bets on his performance during a March 2023 match while he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. During the arraignment, Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky directed Rozier to refrain from gambling, possessing firearms, or contacting victims, co-defendants, and witnesses. Rozier, who hails from Ohio, surrendered his passport and is limited to traveling between Florida, Ohio, and New York unless authorized beforehand.
Appearing in court in a gray suit, Rozier remained mostly silent except for responding to the judge’s queries with simple “yes” or “no” answers. Both Rozier and his attorney, Jim Trusty, chose not to comment following the short court session. Later on, Rozier was scheduled to attend a pretrial hearing with his five co-defendants, their legal representatives, and prosecutors.
Previously denying the allegations, Rozier’s attorney asserted that his client was not involved in gambling activities and is prepared to defend himself against the charges. Rozier’s alleged actions are part of a larger federal crackdown on illegal gambling in connection with professional sports, which has led to the arrest of over 30 individuals, including individuals with ties to Mafia groups.
In a separate incident, Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups also pleaded not guilty in a scheme related to fixing high-stakes poker games supported by the Mafia. Prosecutors claim that Rozier informed bettors of his intention to exit a game against the New Orleans Pelicans early due to a fabricated injury, enabling them to place bets that resulted in significant winnings.
Damon Jones, another NBA personality, recently pleaded not guilty to charges of sharing insider information about injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis while serving as an unofficial assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jones is also tied to the poker scheme involving Billups and others. As their legal proceedings unfold, both Billups and Rozier have been put on unpaid leave from their respective teams.
Rozier, who has amassed approximately $160 million during his decade-long NBA career, was selected in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics after a successful college career at the University of Louisville. Last year, he was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Miami Heat.