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 \u201ctens of millions of dollars,\u201d according to FBI director Kash Patel.<\/p>\n
Rozier is accused of conspiring with other defendants (34 have been arrested in total) to share private insider information \u2014 known only by fellow players and coaches \u2014 that would likely influence the outcome of NBA games (or individual performances) in exchange for a flat fee or share of the betting profits.<\/p>\n
Similarly, sportsbooks flagged suspicious betting activity on Rozier\u2019s 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 \u2014 all related to the under bet on Rozier\u2019s points, rebounds and assists.<\/p>\n
Networks quickly halted all betting on Rozier, who played just 10 minutes before leaving the game with injury.<\/p>\n
Of the 34 arrests, six are connected with illegal sports betting while the remaining defendants \u2014 including Billups \u2014 are linked to the fraudulent poker games. The card-playing scheme involved members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese and Genovese crime families using \u201csophisticated cheating technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Billups and Rozier face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges.<\/p>\n