Federal prosecutors have indicted former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on additional charges, including bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. These new charges allege that Rozier conspired with gamblers to strategically leave a March 2023 game early, feigning a lower leg injury, to enable them to win over $250,000 on prop bets that his performance statistics (points, assists, etc.) would be lower than betting lines.
The superseding indictment claims Rozier received a $70,000 bribe for his participation in the scheme. Initially, the agreed-upon bribe was $100,000, but it was reportedly discounted because he collected four rebounds during the game, exceeding the betting line for that specific statistic, thereby affecting some of the conspirators' bets. Rozier has pleaded not guilty to previous wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges and is fighting to dismiss the case, arguing that the government's theory on defrauding sportsbooks is inconsistent with a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The ongoing investigation, which has already led to a lifetime NBA ban for Jontay Porter, implicates a wider network of gamblers and poker players. The new charges allege Rozier defrauded not only sportsbooks but also the NBA and his then-team, the Charlotte Hornets. He remains free on a $3 million bond, and the case has kept him off the court this season. This indictment follows guilty pleas from others involved, including sports bettor Marves Fairley, who admitted to paying Rozier's longtime friend $100,000 for insider information about Rozier's planned early exit from the game.
