NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering related to an illegal gambling scheme he allegedly participated in. The 31-year-old point guard formally entered the plea during his arraignment in Brooklyn federal court on Monday.
Rozier was arrested for his alleged involvement stemming from a 2023 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.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, admitted to Pakinomist Digital shortly after his client’s arrest that Rozier “told a friend” he was going to take himself out of a game early, which “is not a crime.” Trusty said Rozier was dealing with a “chronic injury,” but Rozier had not been placed on the Charlotte Hornets’ injury report before the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier leaves Brooklyn federal court Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
However, Rozier reportedly told a childhood friend, Deniro Laster, that he would take himself out of a game early, citing an injury, so that Laster could place bets based on the information. Neither Hornets officials nor betting companies were made aware of Rozier’s plan, according to the indictment.
Laster then allegedly sold this information to other co-conspirators, and several people bet a total of about $200,000 on Rozier’s “under” prop bets to hit both parlay and straight bets. After Rozier played just nine minutes and never returned, the bets won. Rozier and Laster counted winnings at Rozier’s home in Charlotte about a week later, the indictment states.
Rozier, wearing a gray suit, did not speak in court other than to answer the judge’s “yes” or “no” questions. He declined to comment afterwards, but his lawyer Trusty said his client was “excited” to begin defending himself against the charges.
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)
BASKETBALL HALL OF FAMER REFLECTS ON ‘CRISIS’ IN SPORTS GAMBLING: ‘NOT FUN TO WATCH’
Trusty said at a hearing later with the five other defendants in the case that he would soon file a motion to dismiss the case based on constitutional grounds. He also urged the judge to proceed with the case on an “expedited” timeline, saying Rozier is dealing with “multiple layers of litigation,” including arbitration with the NBA, but U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall brushed aside those concerns, saying “arbitration with the league doesn’t concern me.”
Hall set the next hearing in the case for March 3 after hearing from prosecutors that they would soon be handling “voluminous” amounts of evidence for defense attorneys, including an initial set of 1,000 documents and more than 55 gigabytes of data.
Rozier was one of more than 30 people, along with NBA figures Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones, who were part of FBI investigations into alleged illegal gambling associated with the La Cosa Nostra crime families. Billups and Jones are alleged to have knowingly participated in rigged poker games, while Jones also allegedly leaked non-public information about NBA games in order for his cronies to place bets with a competitive advantage.
Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were arrested in October. (Jaime Valdez/Imagn Images, Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their teams while their lawsuits play out.
