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Terry Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, argued that the government was “crawling in bed with some horrible people” in an effort to implicate the NBA player in allegations that he told a friend he was going to take himself out of a game so the friend could place potential winning bets on his performance.
Rozier was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering stemming from a game in which he played less than 10 minutes, citing a foot injury. Several people placed high stakes on Rozier to perform poorly before the game, which everyone won.
Trusty admitted that Rozier “told a friend” he was going to take himself out of a game early, which is “not a crime,” and added that the allegations against his client are “thin.”
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Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (3) looks to suit up against the Boston Celtics in the second half at the Spectrum Center. (Nell Redmond/USA Today Sports)
In fact, Rozier is the one getting “screwed,” Trusty said, because he “lost money” on his shoe endorsement deal by not playing in enough games. Rozier missed the final six games of the season with a foot injury.
“Terry Rozier had a $100 million contract and a big shoe endorsement. This accusation actually suggests he faked the injury, which is absurd. People knew about it — medical people knew about it, staff knew about it, friends knew about it. This was a guy who got beat up after a long 82-game season. The Hornets are out of the playoffs, so he and others were out of the playoffs. [Charlotte] Hornets coaching staff, time to sit them. It’s a waste,” Trusty added in his appearance on “The Will Cain Show.”
“It was a chronic injury, it would only get worse if he played for no reason, so he took himself out.”
Rozier was not placed on the Hornets’ pregame injury report.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
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Trusty added that there are “a bunch of people that Terry doesn’t even know if he can pick them out of a lineup.”
When asked if Rozier provided inside information for illegal betting purposes, Trusty said the answer was an “absolute no. Never happened.”
“I think the prosecution basically knows that, but they like the idea of having him as a trophy in this case to mirror the case with Chauncey Billups…” Trusty said. “This is an innocent guy who’s getting completely screwed over in terms of his career. He’s played 1,000 games, they’re seizing on a game where the NBA literally cleared him two years ago and trying to suggest that somehow they know better and that he was a conspirator as opposed to someone who just hurt his foot.”
Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (3) dribbles against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at the Footprint Center. (Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)
“I’m concerned that the government may have gotten into bed with some terrible people to try to get their cooperation,” he added. “Violent people on the gambling side. They don’t want anything honest or direct about Terry. I’m worried they’re really making deals with the devil to try to work their way down instead of the other way around.”
Two defendants in the related poker case, Curtis Meeks and Angelo Ruggeiro Jr., were in court in Brooklyn on Tuesday, where Meeks was ordered permanently detained, meaning the government can keep him behind bars indefinitely while the case continues. Ruggiero Jr. will be remanded in custody, meaning he can be held indefinitely while the case progresses. Meeks pleaded not guilty. Rozier has not been charged in the case, which remains an ongoing investigation.
