Terry Rozier
| Terry William Rozier III | |
|---|---|
| File:Terry-rozier.png | |
| Born: | March 17, 1994 Youngstown, Ohio |
| Occupation: | Professional basketball player |
| Known for: | NBA guard; federal sports-betting prosecution |
| Charges: | Conspiracy to commit wire fraud (alleged), Conspiracy to commit money laundering (alleged), Bribery in sporting contests (alleged), Honest services wire fraud conspiracy (alleged) |
| Sentence: |
|
| Facility: | |
| Status: | Charged, awaiting trial |
Terry William Rozier III (born March 17, 1994), known by the nickname "Scary Terry," is an American professional basketball player. He spent ten seasons in the National Basketball Association as a guard for the Boston Celtics, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Miami Heat.[1]
In October 2025, federal prosecutors charged Rozier as part of a wide-ranging investigation into illegal sports betting. He has not been convicted of any crime. Like every defendant in the American legal system, Rozier is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.[2]
Prosecutors allege that in March 2023, while Rozier played for the Charlotte Hornets, he agreed to remove himself early from a game so that associates could profit from bets that his statistics would fall below the lines set by sportsbooks. The government alleges he was promised a bribe of roughly $100,000 for the arrangement. Rozier denies the allegations. He pleaded not guilty in December 2025 and was released on bond pending trial.[3][4]
On May 28, 2026, a federal grand jury in Brooklyn returned a superseding indictment that added counts of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. The new counts named the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets as victims. Rozier's defense team has moved to dismiss the case and has characterized the added charges as an effort by prosecutors to make a weak case stick. None of the allegations has been tested at trial.[3][5]
Basketball Career
Rozier was born March 17, 1994, in Youngstown, Ohio. He played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals. As a sophomore, he led the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game and earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.[6]
The Boston Celtics selected Rozier with the sixteenth overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He spent his first four seasons mostly as a reserve. During the 2018 playoffs he moved into the starting lineup after injuries to other guards. He recorded a triple-double in his first start and scored 26 points in a Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The performances earned him a following and the "Scary Terry" nickname.[6]
In 2019, Rozier joined the Charlotte Hornets through a sign-and-trade that sent Kemba Walker to Boston. He signed a three-year contract and later agreed to a four-year extension reported at roughly $97 million. He became a starting guard and one of the team's leading scorers across several seasons.[6]
On January 23, 2024, the Hornets traded Rozier to the Miami Heat in a deal that returned Kyle Lowry and a protected first-round draft pick. Rozier finished the 2023-24 season with Miami and remained under contract with the team into the 2025-26 season.[6]
In October 2025, following the federal charges, the NBA placed Rozier on leave. He did not play during the proceedings that followed.[2]
The Federal Gambling Case
The charges against Rozier arose from a broad federal investigation announced in October 2025. Prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York described two related but distinct schemes. One concerned alleged insider betting on NBA games. The other concerned rigged high-stakes poker games said to be backed by organized crime. Authorities reported that the overall investigation led to the arrests of more than 30 people across multiple states.[2][7]
Rozier was named in the sports-betting portion of the case. Other defendants identified in that portion included Eric Earnest, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen, and Deniro Laster. Prosecutors have said Marves Fairley and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones entered guilty pleas in the broader matter. Those pleas relate to the individuals who entered them and do not establish the truth of the allegations against Rozier, who maintains his innocence.[2][3]
The poker portion of the case named Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, who was also placed on leave by his team. Prosecutors alleged the poker scheme used rigged shuffling machines and other equipment and was connected to organized crime. Billups pleaded not guilty in November 2025. The poker allegations are separate from the conduct charged against Rozier.[7][8]
The original indictment, returned in October 2025, charged Rozier with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On May 28, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment that added two counts, bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. The case is pending in federal court in Brooklyn.[3][9]
The Allegations
The following describes what prosecutors allege. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Rozier denies them.
Prosecutors allege that the conduct centered on a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. According to the government, Rozier told a longtime associate, identified in court filings as Deniro Laster, that he planned to leave the game early citing a lower-leg injury. The government alleges Laster relayed that information to a group of bettors.[3][5]
Those bettors then allegedly placed wagers totaling more than $258,700 on the "under" for Rozier's statistical lines, including points, rebounds, and assists. Prosecutors say Rozier played roughly nine minutes in the game and finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists before exiting.[3]
Prosecutors allege that Rozier was promised a bribe of approximately $100,000 in exchange for the tip and his early exit. According to the government, the figure was later reduced to about $70,000 in post-game negotiations among the alleged participants. Prosecutors have not alleged that Rozier altered the outcome of the game itself. The theory of the case concerns alleged manipulation of his individual statistics for the purpose of betting.[3][9]
The superseding indictment names the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets as victims of the alleged scheme. Rozier has consistently denied that he participated in any betting arrangement.[5]
Proceedings
Rozier was arrested in October 2025 as part of the coordinated federal action. He was arraigned in December 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to the original counts of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. He was released on a $3 million bond. Conditions of release reported in court coverage included surrender of his passport, a prohibition on gambling, a prohibition on possessing firearms, restrictions on contact with co-defendants and witnesses, and travel limited to Florida, Ohio, and New York.[4]
His defense team, led by attorney Jim Trusty, filed a motion to dismiss the charges. Following the May 2026 superseding indictment, the defense said in a statement that the new charges confirmed the original case was weak, describing the added counts as "new charges, new theories, but all just a sad effort to make something stick." The court had not ruled on the motion to dismiss as of early June 2026.[3]
In a separate civil matter, an arbitrator ruled that Rozier was required to forfeit a substantial portion of his NBA salary in connection with the gambling probe. That ruling is a contract and arbitration dispute and is distinct from the criminal proceeding. Court coverage indicated the criminal case was expected to proceed toward trial during 2026.[10][4]
Because the matter remains pending, no finding of guilt has been entered. Rozier retains the presumption of innocence, and the government bears the burden of proof at any trial.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Terry Rozier?
Terry William Rozier III, born March 17, 1994, in Youngstown, Ohio, is an American professional basketball player. He played in the NBA as a guard for the Boston Celtics, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Miami Heat, and is known by the nickname "Scary Terry." In October 2025, federal prosecutors charged him in connection with a sports-betting investigation. He has pleaded not guilty and has not been convicted of any crime.
Q: What is Terry Rozier charged with?
Rozier was initially charged in October 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. A superseding indictment returned on May 28, 2026, added counts of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. All charges are allegations. Rozier has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent.
Q: Is Terry Rozier guilty?
No court has found Terry Rozier guilty of any offense. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies the allegations. Under the United States legal system, every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves the charges beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The case against Rozier remains pending.
Q: What do prosecutors allege Terry Rozier did?
Prosecutors allege that in a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans, Rozier tipped an associate that he planned to leave early with an injury, allowing bettors to wager on his statistics falling below the sportsbook lines. The government alleges he was promised a bribe of about $100,000, later reduced to roughly $70,000. These are allegations that have not been proven in court, and Rozier denies them.
Q: Has Terry Rozier gone to prison?
No. Rozier has not been convicted and is not incarcerated. He was arrested in October 2025, pleaded not guilty, and was released on a $3 million bond pending trial. The case is in the pretrial stage in federal court in Brooklyn.
Q: Who are Terry Rozier's co-defendants?
The broader federal investigation, announced in October 2025, named more than 30 defendants across two related schemes. The sports-betting portion that includes Rozier also named Eric Earnest, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen, and Deniro Laster. Former NBA figure Damon Jones and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were charged in the wider matter. The conduct alleged against each defendant is distinct, and pleas entered by others do not establish guilt on Rozier's part.
Q: What was Terry Rozier's NBA career?
The Boston Celtics drafted Rozier sixteenth overall in 2015. He spent four seasons in Boston, gaining attention during the 2018 playoffs, then joined the Charlotte Hornets in 2019 through a sign-and-trade for Kemba Walker. He was traded to the Miami Heat in January 2024. The NBA placed him on leave after the October 2025 charges.
References
- ↑ Basketball-Reference. "Terry Rozier Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more." Accessed June 4, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 NBC News. "NBA gambling arrests: Miami Heat's Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups among over 30 indicted in FBI investigations." October 23, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 ESPN. "Feds say Terry Rozier agreed to $100K bribe in betting plot." May 28, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 CBS Sports. "Latest updates in gambling case as Heat guard Terry Rozier pleads not guilty." December 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Washington Times. "Terry Rozier hit with new NBA bribery charges in sports gambling sting." May 29, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Wikipedia. "Terry Rozier." Accessed June 4, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 CNBC. "NBA coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat player Terry Rozier arrested in federal gambling cases." October 23, 2025.
- ↑ CBS Sports. "Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to conspiracy charges: Where Terry Rozier, Damon Jones stand after arrests." 2025.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sports Handle. "Terry Rozier Gambling Case: New Federal Charges Explained." May 2026.
- ↑ NBC News. "Terry Rozier must forfeit most of his $26 million NBA salary, arbitrator rules." 2026.