Terry Rozier Faces New Charges, Damon Jones Pleads Guilty in Sports Betting and Poker Scandals

• According to a report from The Athletic, Terry Rozier faces new federal charges for accepting and soliciting a bribe
• Counsel for Rozier noted the potential new charges during a Monday court hearing
• Damon Jones today pleaded guilty for his role in the sports betting and poker scandals

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Terry Rozier could be facing new federal charges for soliciting and accepting a bribe, according to a recent report from The Athletic, while former NBA player and coach Damon Jones pleaded guilty for his participation in the sports betting and poker scandal.

Counsel for Rozier noted during a Monday court hearing for his alleged role in an NBA sports betting scandal that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York reported it intended to file a charge against Rozier for soliciting and accepting a bribe.

Jones today changed his initial plea of not guilty to guilty for his roles in the connected sports betting and poker scandals.

Rozier Facing New Charges

Rozier faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for his alleged role in an illegal sports betting gambling ring which manipulated game performances and used non-public information to win large amounts of money over at least two NBA seasons.

Rozier has pled not guilty to the two initial charges.

According to The Athletic, new information on the bribery charges came Monday afternoon during a hearing in which Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, asked the court to dismiss the case. Trusty reported that prosecutors told him two hours prior about the new charges. The charges will next be presented to a grand jury.

During the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 NBA seasons, Rozier and several defendants allegedly used non-public information and plans from NBA players to leave games early to capitalize on a number of bets placed through online and retail sportsbooks.

According to an indictment, six members of the ring either manipulated individual performances or knew non-public information prior to several NBA games.

The sports betting scandal, dubbed “Operation Nothing But Net” by the FBI, involved similar individuals who also orchestrated the sports betting scheme involving former Raptors center Jontay Porter. Porter pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in manipulating his performance outcomes and is awaiting sentencing. He has also been permanently banned from the NBA.

A federal investigation for Rozier was announced in January, centering around a March 23, 2023 game when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier played less than 10 minutes in the game after leaving with what was described as a foot injury. Rozier averaged more than 35 minutes a game that season.

Individuals involved in the conspiracy knew when specific players would be sitting out futures games or who planned to pull themselves out of competition early, for purported injuries of illnesses.

Former NBA player and coach Jones, who was also named in the sports betting scandal, today changed his own plea to guilty for his alleged role in the illegal sports betting and poker schemes.

Jones Pleads Guilty For His Roles

Jones today pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy in two separate cases; one count for his role in the NBA sports betting scheme and another for his role in a rigged poker conspiracy.

Earlier this month Jones requested an in-person change-of-plea hearing. Today’s proceedings were held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo.

“As shown by his guilty pleas today, Damon Jones converted his fame and ties to professional basketball into a multi-faceted criminal betting operation. He used private locker room and medical information from multiple NBA teams to cheat legitimate sportsbooks. He also, separately, lured unsuspecting victims to high-stakes rigged poker games,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. in a release. “Jones will now face the consequences for his corrupt conduct.”

Jones shared non-public information regarding Lebron James during his 2022-2023 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jones had restricted access to work with James during the season and allegedly shared information with gamblers that James would miss a Feb. 9, 2023 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to ankle soreness.

Jones was part of the poker scheme, dubbed “Operation Royal Flush” by the FBI, which involved several New York Italian mafia families organizing rigged poker games to scam millions of dollars from its players. Thirteen members from New York mafia families have been indicted in the case.

Players were promised the opportunity to play with former NBA player and coach Chauncey Billups and Jones, former NBA players and coaches, to lure them into the games.