NBA star guard Scary Terry Rozier ponies up $3M bail in sports betting case as feds tease plea talks

Published: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 12:09 am

NBA Star Terry Rozier Posts $3M Bail in Sports Betting Case, Plea Talks Possible

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has secured his release on a $3 million bail, using his Florida residence as collateral, following his involvement in an alleged NBA betting scandal. The 31-year-old, who was in the final year of a $96 million contract when arrested in October, pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn federal court.

Prosecutors have indicated they are open to plea negotiations with Rozier and five other individuals implicated in the case, including former NBA player Damon Jones. Judge LaShawn DeArcy Hall has scheduled the case to reconvene on March 3.

Rozier is accused of providing inside information to his childhood friend, Deniro Laster, regarding a planned injury and early departure from a game on March 23, 2023, when he played for the Charlotte Hornets. Laster allegedly sold this information for $100,000 to a sports betting group. This group, including Marves Vezino Fainley and Shane Sugar Hennen, is accused of making substantial profits by betting against Rozier's performance statistics, knowing he would not meet them due to his early exit.

If convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, Rozier could face up to 20 years in prison. His lawyer, Jim Trusty, has stated his intention to file legal motions to dismiss the case. Fainley and Hennen have also pleaded not guilty.

Rozier is currently embroiled in an arbitration dispute with the NBA and is not receiving his $26.6 million salary installments. In a related development, prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York have also indicted former NBA star Chauncey Billups and ex-NBA player Jones, alleging their involvement in rigged poker games backed by organized crime.

BNN's Perspective:

The allegations against Terry Rozier are serious, and the potential consequences are significant. While the presumption of innocence is paramount, the details of the case, if proven, raise concerns about the integrity of professional sports and the potential for exploitation. The ongoing plea negotiations suggest a complex legal battle ahead, and the outcome will be closely watched by the sports world and the public alike.

Keywords: Terry Rozier, NBA, sports betting, bail, plea negotiations, fraud, money laundering, indictment, Damon Jones, Chauncey Billups, conspiracy, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, gambling, legal, court, Eastern District of New York

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