Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is mounting a vigorous defense, escalating his legal battle with a bold move in federal court. Just weeks after entering a plea of not guilty, Rozier is now seeking a complete dismissal of the charges against him, thrusting himself into the center of a sprawling federal investigation into sports betting.
The case ensnares over thirty individuals, but Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, contends the charges – conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering – are fundamentally flawed and should never have been brought to bear. Trusty is aggressively challenging the prosecution’s foundation.
At the heart of Trusty’s argument lies a critical assertion: the indictment fails to adequately demonstrate how Rozier allegedly engaged in wire fraud. He argues this omission is a fatal weakness, suggesting that without a solid wire fraud claim, the money laundering allegations simply crumble.
Trusty is leaning heavily on a 2023 Supreme Court ruling, emphasizing the stringent requirements for proving wire fraud. The prosecution, he insists, must demonstrate a clear intent to deprive a victim – in this case, sportsbooks – of money or property, a standard he believes hasn’t been met.
The prosecution has characterized the case as involving “insider betting” and even “rigging” of professional basketball games, but Trusty sharply rebukes this framing. He argues the indictment actually alleges a far less sensational offense: violations of sportsbook terms of use by a group of bettors.
The government alleges Rozier shared non-public information with a co-conspirator, De’Niro Laster, specifically revealing his intention to leave a March 2023 game early while playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Laster then allegedly profited by selling this information to gamblers within a wider betting network.
However, Trusty vehemently denies any criminal intent on Rozier’s part. The indictment, he points out, doesn’t claim Rozier ever placed a bet himself, directly or through another person. Nor does it allege he knew Laster would sell the information or that its use would violate betting rules.
The prosecution now has until early February to respond to the motion to dismiss. A procedural hearing for all defendants is scheduled for March, with Judge Reyes aiming to begin the trial by September. The stakes are high, and the legal maneuvering is intense.
Rozier’s arrest in October was part of a larger sweep that included suspended Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones, along with numerous others. Billups faces charges related to rigged poker games with alleged ties to organized crime, while Jones is implicated in both the basketball and poker schemes. All three have pleaded not guilty.
