Terry Rozier Pleads Not Guilty For Alleged Role in Sports Betting Scandal

• NBA guard Terry Rozier pled not guilty yesterday for his alleged role in an NBA sports betting scandal
• Rozier was released on a $3 million person recognizance bond
• His travel is restricted to just five locations as his trial commences

NBA guard Terry Rozier yesterday pled not guilty in New York court for his alleged role in an NBA sports betting scandal.

Rozier was arraigned on 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.

He was released on a $3 million personal recognizance bond. Co-defendant Deniro Laster also pled not guilty to several charges and was released on a $50,000 bond.

Travel Restricted for Rozier

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.

A judge restricted Rozier’s travel to Florida, Ohio, New York City, and Long Island. If attempting to travel anywhere lese, Rozier must obtain approval from the court.

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.

The defendants placed bets on games involving the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, and Portland Trail Blazers, he said. They did so through online sports betting platforms and in-person at casino sportsbooks.

Billups, Jones Pled Not Guilty

Former NBA coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups pled not guilty in late November in a federal Brooklyn courthouse for his alleged role in rigged poker games. Billups has been charged with counts of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for his alleged role in rigged poker games. The games involved several New York Italian mafia families using various technological means to rig games and scam million of dollars from players.

The poker scheme, dubbed “Operation Royal Flush” by the FBI, 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.

The poker games were allegedly rigged by the mafia using sophisticated technology to ensure who would win, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars being scammed from players at the games. Several of the games used hidden cameras in poker chip trays, players using sunglasses with built-in X-ray technology, and altered shuffling machines.

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

Jones previously pled not guilty for his alleged roles in the poker game scandal and NBA sports betting scandal. Jones pled not guilty to two charges stemming from the scandals.