12/08/25 01:55:00
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12/08 13:53 CST Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleads not guilty to sports
betting charges
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleads not guilty to sports betting charges
By PHILIP MARCELO
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) --- Miami Heat player Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty Monday to
charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games.
The 31-year-old point guard formally entered the plea during his arraignment in
Brooklyn federal court on federal wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy
charges. Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on
his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
Rozier was released on $3 million bond secured by his home in Florida. He was
also instructed by Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky not to gamble, have firearms
or to have any contact with victims, co-defendants and witnesses in the case.
Rozier additionally surrendered his passport and was restricted to traveling
between Florida, Ohio and New York unless granted prior approval.
Rozier, who was wearing a gray suit, didn't speak in court other than to answer
the judge's "yes" or "no" questions.
He was expected to join his five other co-defendants, their lawyers and
prosecutors for a pretrial hearing later Monday.
Rozier previously appeared before a federal judge in Orlando on Oct. 23, when
prosecutors first announced the indictment.
One of his lawyers, Jim Trusty, denied the charges at the time, saying the Ohio
native was "not a gambler" and "looks forward to winning this fight."
More than 30 people have been arrested in the sprawling federal takedown of
illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports, including several
Mafia figures. Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey
Billups has pleaded not guilty in a separate scheme to fix high-stakes,
Mafia-backed illegal poker games.
Prosecutors say Rozier informed the bettors that he intended to leave the game
against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, allowing
gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars.
Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving,
citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season.
The other NBA figure ensnared in the investigation is Damon Jones, who pleaded
not guilty last month to charges he provided sports bettors with nonpublic
information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis while
serving as an unofficial assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers during the
2022-2023 season. Jones, a former NBA player, is also indicted along with
Billups and others in the separate poker scheme.
Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their teams as
their court cases play out.
Rozier has earned about $160 million over a 10-year NBA career. He was a
first-round pick for the Boston Celtics in 2015 after starring at the
University of Louisville. Charlotte traded him to the Heat last year.
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Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo
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