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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier’s attorney criticized the FBI Thursday after his client was arrested as part of a wide-ranging official investigation into illegal gambling.
Rozier, Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and former NBA coach Damon Jones were among the professional sports figures arrested in the investigation.
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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (5) during the first quarter at Capital One Arena on May 31, 2025. (Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images)
“We have been representing Terry Rozier for over a year. A long time ago, we contacted these prosecutors to tell them that we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called me to tell me that FBI agents were trying to arrest him at a hotel,” said James Trusty, of Ifrah Law PLLC, in a press release.
“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to turn himself in, they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a criminal walk. That speaks volumes about the motivations behind this case. They appear to be speaking from spectacularly unbelievable sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA and these Prosecutors have revived this non-case. Terry is not a player, but he is not afraid of a fight and he is eager to win this fight.
Rozier was allegedly involved in a scheme to manipulate statistics so that his alleged co-conspirators would profit from prop bets.
PK Press Club Digital has contacted the NBA and the Heat for comment.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) and guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, District of Columbia, March 31, 2025. (Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images)
NBA LEGEND CHAUNCEY BILLUPS AND HEAT’S TERRY ROZIER ARRESTED IN FBI GAMING INVESTIGATION
The NBA confirmed in January that Rozier was under investigation by federal prosecutors for suspected illegal betting schemes. The Wall Street Journal was first to report Rozier’s allegations.
The NBA said at the time that it looked into the matter at the time and found no violations of league rules.
“In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier’s performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans,” the league told the Wall Street Journal in January. “The league conducted an investigation and found no violations of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York into this matter and have cooperated in that investigation.”
The game in question involving Rozier was played on March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of that game — and not only didn’t return that night, citing a foot issue, but he didn’t play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention. So it didn’t seem particularly unusual that Rozier would be shut down for the final games of the season.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, District of Columbia, March 31, 2025. (Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images)
In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter, but well below his usual total production for a full game.
