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Miami Heat Player Terry Rozier will appear in federal court on Monday brooklyn Allegations that he helped gamblers place bets on his performance nba game.
The 31-year-old point guard will be formally convicted new york On federal wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. He will also be joined by five other co-defendants and their lawyers before the case goes to trial later in the day.
Rozier previously appeared before a federal judge orlando on October 23, when prosecutors first announced the indictment. At that time he was released with conditions.
One of his attorneys, Jim Trusty, denied the allegations, saying the Ohio native was “not a gambler” and “is eager to win this fight.”
More than 30 people, including several Mafia figures, have been arrested in connection with a sweeping federal takedown of illegal gambling operations involving professional sports. Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups has pleaded not guilty in a separate scheme to fix a high-stakes, mafia-backed illegal poker game.
Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help him win bets on his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
They say he informed bettors that he intended to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early due to an alleged injury, which would have allowed gamblers to place bets to earn thousands of dollars.
Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving citing a foot problem. He did not play again that season.
The other NBA figure implicated in the investigation is Damon Jones, who pleaded not guilty last month to charges that he provided non-public information to sports bettors about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis while working as an unofficial assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-2023 season. Jones, a former NBA player, has also been convicted in a separate poker scheme with Billups and others.
Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their teams as their court cases continue.
Rozier has earned approximately $160 million in his 10-year NBA career. He was selected in the first round by the Boston Celtics in 2015 after starring at the University of Louisville. Charlotte traded him to the Heat last year.
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