Federal Prosecutors Allege Former Heat Terry Rozier took $100K Bribe For ‘Faking’ Injury

Former NBA player Terry Rozier was hit with new federal charges of sports bribery.

Federal Prosecutors Allege Former Heat Terry Rozier took $100K Bribe For ‘Faking’ Injury

Bettors made $13K off unders on Terry Rozier in less than an hour (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Terry Rozier is accused of accepting a $100,000 bribe to manipulate his performance in a March 2023 NBA game.
  • He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently out on a $3 million bond.
  • The trial is expected this fall, as Rozier's co-defendants seek plea deals amid ongoing investigations into illegal gambling.

Terry Rozier seems to be caught up in a lot of mess at the moment. Last year, he was under investigation by federal authorities over a game in 2023 when he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. It was a sports betting scandal that shook the NBA world.

However, it looks like things have gotten even worse for the former Miami Heat player. He faces new allegations from federal prosecutors. The prosecutors have accused Rozier of taking a $100,000 bribe in order to intentionally check out early from a March 2023 game.

While the player had pleaded not guilty to the federal charges in December, he was slapped with two new charges against him on Thursday.

The doubts first arose in January last year when a high volume of bets were placed on the under for Rozier’s performance. Terry Rozier continued to play for the Heat, as the NBA allowed him since he was not charged with any crimes or personally accused of any wrongdoing at the time.

However, the biggest news that shocked everyone was that Rozier got arrested along with former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and another player, Damon Jones. The investigation later revealed that the illegal activities were run by various criminal organizations, including the Bonanno, Gambino, and Lucchese crime families of the American Mafia.

Over 30 people were arrested across the United States. The likes of Shaquille O’Neal and others within the NBA community were left ashamed by the events that transpired.

RELATED
Adam Silver Gains Unprecedented Power: $10 Million Fines and Draft Manipulation to Stop Tanking

NBA world reacts to Terry Rozier’s latest bribing allegations

The charges against Terry Rozier left a sour taste in everyone’s mouths. Rozier was a talented player and a first-round pick in the 2015 NBA draft. However, there is no room for illegal gambling in professional sports.

After the recent allegations from the federal prosecutors, the NBA community did not waste any time in expressing their opinions across social media.

Fans were left disappointed with the latest charges on Rozier. The guard signed a four-year $96 million contract with the Heat; hence, fans were left questioning the player’s actions.

Terry Rozier pleads not guilty to the latest charges

Terry Rozier is currently out on a $3 million bond and has not played in the NBA since. According to the latest allegations, the initial bribe was set at $100,000 but was later renegotiated down to $70,000 after Rozier exceeded the betting line with four rebounds.

Terry Rozier's actions from his time with the Charlotte Hornets brought this investigation
Terry Rozier’s actions from his time with the Charlotte Hornets brought this investigation (Image via Open Source/X)

It has been reported that Rozier has pleaded not guilty, and the trial is expected to be this fall as his defendants seek plea deals.

The charges against Rozier are serious once again. However, his defense claims that the prosecution’s interpretation of the law may be flawed. Betting has been a concern for the NBA over the last few years. Fans have been confronting NBA stars over parlays, while some have gone as far as harassing the players.

Also Read: