Federal authorities have filed additional criminal charges against former Miami Heat player Terry Rozier in connection with an ongoing sports betting investigation, claiming he accepted a substantial payment to leave a basketball game early in March 2023.
The 32-year-old athlete faced new accusations Thursday when prosecutors in Brooklyn federal court issued a superseding indictment charging him with bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. This type of legal filing allows prosecutors to modify or introduce additional charges in an active criminal matter.
Rozier has maintained his innocence regarding involvement in the betting operation and continues battling to get the case thrown out after entering not guilty pleas to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges last December. His legal team contends that the prosecution’s approach — claiming he prevented betting platforms from making well-informed decisions about accepting wagers — conflicts with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited the scope of federal wire fraud laws.
“The new indictment just confirms that our motion to dismiss was righteous — new charges, new theories, but all just an effort to make something stick,” Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
Authorities arrested Rozier in October alongside former NBA player Damon Jones, who admitted guilt last month for his involvement in schemes targeting major betting platforms including DraftKings and FanDuel. The case also involves sports bettor and influencer Marves Fairley, who entered guilty pleas Thursday to conspiracy, bribery and additional federal charges related to gambling schemes affecting basketball contests in the U.S. and China.
Rozier currently remains out of custody on $3 million bond. The ongoing legal proceedings have prevented him from playing this season.
The updated charges claim that Rozier not only deceived sportsbooks, but also betrayed the NBA and his team at the time, the Charlotte Hornets.
According to prosecutors, Rozier worked with gamblers to exit a game prematurely, claiming a persistent lower leg injury, enabling them to collect on more than $250,000 in wagers betting that his points, assists and other statistics would fall below the lines established by sportsbooks.
However, not every bet paid off because Rozier managed four rebounds, exceeding the betting line, according to the superseding indictment. Following the game, Rozier and his associates renegotiated his payment, reducing it from $100,000 to approximately $70,000, court documents stated.
Prosecutors filed the new charges against Rozier on the same day that Fairley, known as “Vezino Locks” on Instagram, entered his guilty pleas. During his plea hearing, Fairley acknowledged using inside information to gain advantages when wagering on NBA, NCAA and Chinese Professional Basketball League games — including paying $100,000 to Rozier’s longtime friend in exchange for advance notice that Rozier planned to leave a game early.
“Fairley’s attorney Eric Siegle said his client deeply regrets and is ashamed of his conduct.”
“By publicly acknowledging his guilt and conduct today, Marves is taking the first step toward atoning for his wrongful conduct and to starting his ‘second half’ on the right foot,” Siegle said.
