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Terry Rozier’s attorneys have asked a judge to throw out betting charges as he faces jail time.
The NBA player was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering stemming from his alleged involvement in illegal sports gambling.
Rozier was arrested for his alleged involvement stemming from a game in 2023 in which he played fewer than 10 minutes, citing a foot injury. Multiple people placed high-stakes wagers on Rozier to perform poorly before the game, all of whom won.
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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, District of Columbia, on March 31, 2025. (Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images)
Rozier’s lawyers argued that the government’s theory of the case — that he prevented sportsbooks from making informed decisions about accepting certain bets — runs afoul of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the federal wire fraud statute.
“The government has billed this case as involving ‘insider betting’ and ‘rigging’ professional basketball games,” Rozier’s lawyers, James M. Trusty and A. Jeff Ifrah, wrote in the motion. “But the indictment alleges something less headline-worthy: that some bettors broke certain sportsbooks’ terms of use against wagering based on non-public information and ‘straw betting.’”
Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier leaves Brooklyn federal court, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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Trusty told Fox News shortly after his client’s arrest that Rozier “told a friend” he would 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.
Neither Hornets officials nor betting companies were made aware of Rozier’s plan, according to the Department of Justice.
Earlier this month, Rozier pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Rozier was one of more than 30 people, along with NBA figures Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones, who were part of FBI probes into alleged illegal gambling with ties to the La Cosa Nostra crime families. Billups and Jones allegedly participated in rigged poker games, while Jones also allegedly leaked non-public information about NBA games, so those close to him could place wagers with a competitive advantage.
Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones were arrested for their alleged involvements in illegal gambling. (Jaime Valdez/Imagn Images, Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their teams as their court cases play out.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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