Terry Rozier Arrested in Ongoing Federal Sports-Betting Probe
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NEW YORK — Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was taken into custody by the FBI on Thursday in connection with a wide-ranging federal investigation into illegal sports wagering, authorities confirmed.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York is scheduled to address the arrest at a 10:00 a.m. ET press conference alongside representatives from the FBI, Homeland Security, and the New York City Police Department. Officials are expected to outline “numerous arrests” tied to illicit betting and underground poker operations.
Game From 2023 at Center of Inquiry
Federal prosecutors first linked Rozier to the probe in January while examining a March 23, 2023 contest, when he was a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Investigators flagged 30 prop-bet wagers placed within 46 minutes at a Biloxi, Mississippi casino, all predicting Rozier would finish under statistical benchmarks. Simultaneously, sportsbooks in New Orleans experienced a surge of identical “under” bets on his performance.
Rozier logged 9:34 in that game, posting five points, four rebounds and two assists before exiting with a reported foot injury. He sat out the final eight games of the 2022-23 season, and every one of the suspicious wagers paid out.
Conflicting Reports on Player’s Status
In June, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Rozier had been “cleared” at that time, but later reports indicated investigators continued to scrutinize the 31-year-old guard, even if he was not the primary focus.
Despite the ongoing inquiry, Miami allowed Rozier to play last season. He averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 64 games — his lowest production in several years — while shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from three. He did not appear in the Heat’s season opener Wednesday night.
Wider Investigation Includes Malik Beasley
Free-agent guard Malik Beasley is also under federal review, though no information has emerged about his arrest or clearance. Should investigators and the NBA ultimately exonerate him, league executives expect heavy demand for his services.
Source: Hoops Rumors
