A Miami Heat player was arrested in Orlando on Thursday morning as part of an FBI gambling investigation linked to the Mafia. The player was identified as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Rozier joined the Miami Heat in January 2024 following a trade from the Charlotte Hornets.He is accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme that used private insider NBA information, according to AP News. In the illegal sports betting scheme, players would modify their performances or leave games prematurely, according to Jessica Tisch, New York Police Commissioner. Rozier’s lawyer issued the following statement regarding the arrest: “We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year. A long time ago we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel. It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested as part of the investigation. Billups is part of a different indictment, which involves a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that Mafia families backed.However, they were not the only ones involved. During a news conference, officials said more than 30 people were arrested in probes into illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia, AP News reports. The charges connected to this operation include wire fraud, money laundering, robbery, extortion and illegal gambling, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. “This is an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years,” Patel said.Patel said the fraud involves “La Cosa Nostra” and the Italian-American Mafia. The NBA issued the following statements: “We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. 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.”>> The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A Miami Heat player was arrested in Orlando on Thursday morning as part of an FBI gambling investigation linked to the Mafia.
The player was identified as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Rozier joined the Miami Heat in January 2024 following a trade from the Charlotte Hornets.
He is accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme that used private insider NBA information, according to AP News.
In the illegal sports betting scheme, players would modify their performances or leave games prematurely, according to Jessica Tisch, New York Police Commissioner.
Rozier’s lawyer issued the following statement regarding the arrest:
“We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year. A long time ago we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel. It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested as part of the investigation.
Billups is part of a different indictment, which involves a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that Mafia families backed.
However, they were not the only ones involved. During a news conference, officials said more than 30 people were arrested in probes into illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia, AP News reports.
The charges connected to this operation include wire fraud, money laundering, robbery, extortion and illegal gambling, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
“This is an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years,” Patel said.
Patel said the fraud involves “La Cosa Nostra” and the Italian-American Mafia.
The NBA issued the following statements:
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. 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.”
>> The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.