Miami Heat player Terry Rozier appeared in court in New York on charges of sports betting against him on his performance in NBA games and pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
The 31-year-old ringleader was formally arraigned in a Brooklyn federal court Monday on federal wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges.
Rozier was told by Judge Clay Kaminsky not to place bets, have firearms or have any contact with victims, co-defendants or witnesses in connection with this case. Rozier also had to surrender his passport and can only travel between Florida, Ohio and New York unless previously approved for further travel.
Rozier previously appeared before a federal judge in Orlando on October 23, when prosecutors first announced the charge.
By then he had been released with conditions. One of his lawyers, Jim Trusty, had denied the accusations, mentioning that the Ohio native “was not a gambler” and “that he was eager to win this battle.”
Prosecutors said Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on his performance in a game in March 2023, while he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
They also said he informed bettors he planned to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, citing injury, allowing his friends to win tens of thousands of dollars.
Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds, before leaving, allegedly due to a foot injury. He did not play the rest of the season.
More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the vast federal operation aimed at dismantling illegal gaming networks linked to professional sports, involving several mafia figures.
Rozier is one of three people still or formerly in the NBA to be targeted by this investigation.
Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups is one of those accused of participating in a conspiracy to rig high-stakes, illegal, Mafia-backed poker games.
Former player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also accused of participating in the poker conspiracy, in addition to a separate conspiracy to help bettors win bets on NBA games, also involving Rozier.
Billups and Jones pleaded not guilty during their respective arraignments last month. Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their team for the duration of their trial.
Rozier has amassed nearly $160 million in his 10-year NBA career.
He was a first-round pick of the Celtics in 2015. Charlotte traded him to the Heat last year.
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