Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were arrested on Thursday and charged for alleged involvement in illegal sports gambling, as well as mafia-rigged poker games that stretched across 10 states and defrauded victims out of “tens of millions of dollars,” according to FBI director Kash Patel.
Rozier is accused of conspiring with other defendants (34 have been arrested in total) to share private insider information — known only by fellow players and coaches — that would likely influence the outcome of NBA games (or individual performances) in exchange for a flat fee or share of the betting profits.
Similarly, sportsbooks flagged suspicious betting activity on Rozier’s statistics ahead of the Charlotte Hornets vs. New Orleans Pelicans game on March 23, 2023, following 30 wagers in 46 minutes from a professional bettor totaling $13,759 — all related to the under bet on Rozier’s points, rebounds and assists.
Networks quickly halted all betting on Rozier, who played just 10 minutes before leaving the game with injury.
Of the 34 arrests, six are connected with illegal sports betting while the remaining defendants — including Billups — are linked to the fraudulent poker games. The card-playing scheme involved members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese and Genovese crime families using “sophisticated cheating technology.”
Both Billups and Rozier face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges.
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” the league said in a prepared statement (via ESPN). “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
Billups and Rozier are due in court later today.