Scandalized NBA guard Terry Rozier solicited and received a bribe as part of an alleged gambling scheme, according to federal prosecutors who now plan to file new charges against him in the coming weeks.
Rozier was originally charged in October with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly aiding a group of mafia-linked gamblers to make wagers on non-public injury information during his time with the Charlotte Hornets.
On Monday, a hearing was held in a Brooklyn federal courthouse to address Rozier’s motion to dismiss the initial charges.
But it was assistant US attorney Kaitlin Farrell who made the headlines Monday by telling the court that her team expects to file additional charges of sports bribery and honest services wire fraud against Rozier by mid-May.
The Athletic was the first to report the new charges, which have since been confirmed by Rozier’s attorney to ESPN.
‘Our motion to dismiss is based on the idea that they picked an invalid legal theory to prosecute Terry Rozier,’ Trusty told ESPN on Monday. ‘We’ll see what they do to try to fix that in the superseding indictment, but I expect we’ll have problems with it.’
On Monday, a hearing was held to address Rozier’s motion to dismiss the initial charges
Rozier was originally charged in October with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly aiding a group of mafia-linked gamblers to beat the odds
Rozier was among six indicted in October on gambling-related charges.
He is accused of telling childhood friend Deniro Laster that he planned to remove himself early from a Hornets-Pelicans game on March 23, 2023, thereby guaranteeing specific gambling outcomes. Laster allegedly sold that information to gamblers, who then placed bet on the ‘under’ for a variety of prop bets related to Rozier’s performance against the Pelicans.
Damon Jones, the former NBA player and assistant coach accused of selling non-public injury information, is planning to plead guilty for his part in a similar scheme on Tuesday in Brooklyn.
Jones previously denied providing non-public injury information to gamblers, including information about LeBron James’ game status, but has now agreed to plead guilty to at least one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Additionally, Jones also plans to plead guilty to charges in another DOJ gambling probe, according to The Athletic. Jones and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were both accused of playing in rigged poker games organized by mafia figures and aimed at taking millions of dollars from unsuspecting players.
Billups, who has remained on leave as his Trail Blazers have advanced to the postseason, has pleaded not guilty in that case. He is expected back in Brooklyn court on April 28.
