NBA Player Terry Rozier Faces New Charges in Gambling Case
The basketball star is accused of taking money to play poorly in a game.
NBA basketball player Terry Rozier has been given two new criminal charges in a gambling case. Court papers show he is accused of taking bribes and being part of a wire fraud conspiracy. The charges were announced on Thursday, May 28. Rozier used to play for the Miami Heat basketball team.
In April, federal prosecutors first said that Rozier took a bribe as part of the gambling case. Now he faces two additional charges of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. NBC News reporters Tom Winter and Chloe Atkins were the first to report about these new charges.
The accusations say Rozier took a bribe while he played for the Charlotte Hornets from 2019 to 2024. Prosecutors claim he agreed to take himself out of a game early on March 23, 2023. This would help other people involved in the scheme make money by betting against his performance. The plan was that Rozier would play poorly on purpose.
In December, Rozier said he was not guilty of earlier charges of wire fraud and money laundering. His lawyer, Jim Trusty, filed a motion asking the judge to dismiss the case. The judge has not yet made a decision about that request. Trusty has denied that his client was part of any illegal scheme.
In a statement on Thursday, Trusty said the new charges show that their motion to dismiss was right. He called the new charges 'a desperate effort to make something stick.' A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York would not comment on the case.
Rozier has played in the NBA for 10 years. He was arrested in October on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. After his arrest, the NBA put him on leave for the 2025-26 season. The Miami Heat released him in April.
The federal case involves claims of illegal sports betting and money laundering. Former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested in connection with the FBI gambling investigation. He is accused of taking part in rigged poker games with organized crime members.
Two other people in the case have already pleaded guilty to charges related to the NBA gambling scheme. Sports betting influencer Marves Fairley pleaded guilty on Thursday. Former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones pleaded guilty on April 28. Both men admitted to being part of the illegal betting operation.
The guard reportedly agreed to remove himself early from a game on March 23, 2023 so that co-conspirators could cash in on his underperformance.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. What team did Terry Rozier play for when he allegedly took the bribe?
2. On what date did Rozier allegedly agree to remove himself early from a game?
3. How many years has Terry Rozier played in the NBA?