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Read Full BioMiami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested early Thursday morning as part of an FBI sports betting and illegal gambling investigation. In addition to Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former player and coach Damon Jones were also arrested.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests at a news conference in New York City, joined by other law enforcement officials. Patel called the arrests “historic” and said that they involved the NBA stars and the organized crime group, La Cosa Nostra.
Patel emphasized the seismic nature of the case, stating, “This is an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years. The FBI led a coordinated takedown across 11 states to arrest over 30 individuals today responsible for this case, which is very much ongoing.”
He went on to name the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families as part of the criminal activities, which include sports rigging and rigged illegal poker games. Thirteen members of the Mafia groups, including capos, have been named in the two indictments.
He added, “The charges and arrests that were taken down across this country range from wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling. This FBI will leave no room for any perpetrating of crime across this country.”
Six Indicted in Rozier’s Spot-Fixing Case
Rozier was named in the sports rigging case. The Miami Heat player has been under federal investigation for suspicious betting activity related to his performance in a game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023.
A flurry of bets was placed on Rozier to record fewer than 5.5 rebounds in the game. He exited after just 10 minutes with a foot injury, which ensured that all of the prop bets were winners. He did not play again for the Hornets and was traded the following year to the Miami Heat.
Bet logs from Harrah’s Gulf Coast sportsbook showed 30 bets were placed on Rozier to record fewer than 5.5 rebounds in the Hornets’ game against the Pelicans. The majority of suspicious activity occurred in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Caesars contacted the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) and requested permission to void the bets due to suspicions of insider information being used. However, emails reveal that the MGC informed the sportsbook that it would be required to pay the winnings without any concrete evidence of foul play.
The email stated, “Has Caesars been able to come up with any evidence to support this being insider information? If not, the property – which I believe is Harrah’s Gulf Coast/Caesars – will need to pay out the wagers.”
Rozier was arrested Thursday morning at a hotel in Orlando, Florida, where the Heat lost on the road Wednesday to the Magic. Rozier did not play due to a coach’s decision.
In addition to Rozier, law enforcement named Jontay Porter as part of the scheme. Porter was banned for life by the NBA last year and is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges. US Attorney Joseph Nocella said the criminal enterprise targeted Porter due to previous gambling debts.
Between December 2022 and March 2024, the scheme bet on inside, non-public information about NBA athletes and teams. The information included players sitting out games or pulling themselves out early for purported injuries or illnesses.
Speaking about Rozier, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated, “As the NBA season tips off, his career is already benched. Not for injury, but for integrity.”
There was also an investigation into suspicious prop bets on Malik Beasley; however, he was not named in today’s indictments.
Poker Scheme Used NBA Stars to Attract ‘Fish’
The second indictment was a rigged, illegal poker operation. Nocella said Chauncey Billups, as well as Damon Jones, were used as “face” cards to attract “fish” that were victims of the scheme.
The scheme used high-tech cheating technology to steal millions of dollars from victims in underground poker games that were secretly fixed and backed by La Cosa Nostra.
Illegal poker games are common across New York, leaving players with limited legal options. Nocella noted that while the sports rigging and illegal gambling cases are separate, three individuals have been named in both indictments.
These are Jones, Eric Earnest, and Shane Hennen, who was previously arrested in the Jontay Porter case. Nocella stressed that at this time, these are only allegations and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty.
Although he then sent those arrested a message, stating, “Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out. Violating the law is a losing proposition, and you can bet on that.”
NCAA Games Also Under Scrutiny
Marves Fairley was also named in the sports rigging case. Fairley is behind the social media tipping service Vezino Locks.
Fairley was identified as the main suspect in an NCAA basketball spot-fixing scandal, but Nocella noted that college basketball was not a focus of the investigation that led to today’s arrests.
Ten matches had been flagged where bettors wagered against the same five college teams: Eastern Michigan, New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina A&T, and Stony Brook.
Gamblers placed wagers at casinos in Mississippi and retail sportsbooks. Casinos identified so far include Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino, which was also the location for bets on Rozier.
In addition, suspicious betting was noted at Fitz Casino & Hotel, Tunica, Gold Strike Casino Resort, and Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi. Online sportsbooks, including FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars, also reported unusual betting activity.
