Terry Rozier Pleads Not Guilty in NBA Gambling Case

Terry Rozier appeared in federal court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges that accuse him of helping gamblers place winning bets tied to his performance in an NBA game.

$3 Million Bond Secured with Luxury Properties

The 31-year-old Miami Heat guard faces wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges connected to a March 2023 Hornets game, when prosecutors say he coordinated with friends to profit from wagers based on his leaving early with a supposed injury.

Rozier entered his plea in Brooklyn, wearing a gray suit and speaking only to answer the judge’s basic questions. He was released on a $3 million bond secured by two properties, including his Florida home. 

As part of his release, he can’t gamble, can’t possess firearms, and cannot contact anyone involved in the case. He also surrendered his passport and must stay within Florida, Ohio, and New York unless he gets permission to travel.

“Multiple Layers of Litigation”

Outside the courtroom, Rozier didn’t give a statement, but his attorney, Jim Trusty, did. Trusty said Rozier was “excited” to start pushing back against the charges and plans to file a motion to dismiss the case entirely on constitutional grounds. 

He also asked the judge to keep the case moving quickly, noting that Rozier is juggling “multiple layers of litigation,” including a separate arbitration with the NBA.

Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall, however, was not thrilled to entertain that request for speed, reminding everyone that “arbitration with the league is of no concern for me,” and scheduling the next hearing for March 3. 

Prosecutors said they expect to hand over a large amount of evidence in the coming weeks, including more than 1,000 documents and around 55 gigabytes of data.

Rozier is one of more than 30 people charged as part of a widespread federal crackdown on illegal gambling tied to professional sports that has already pulled in important figures from across the sports world, including Mafia associates and former NBA players. 

In a separate case, Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has also pleaded not guilty to charges connected to fixing high-stakes poker games. Damon Jones, another former NBA player, has been charged with giving bettors nonpublic injury information involving LeBron James and Anthony Davis while working informally with the Lakers.

Both Rozier and Billups are currently on unpaid leave as their cases continue. Rozier, a first-round pick in 2015, has earned roughly $160 million over his career. He spent four seasons in Charlotte before being traded to Miami last year.