Heat point guard Terry Rozier pleads not guilty in sports betting case

Miami Heat player Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games.

The 31-year-old point guard formally entered the plea during his arraignment in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., on wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges and was released on $3 million US bond secured by his home in Florida.

Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.

He was also instructed by Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky not to gamble, have firearms or to have any contact with victims, co-defendants and witnesses in the case. Rozier, who's from Ohio, additionally surrendered his passport and was restricted to travelling between Florida, Ohio and New York unless granted prior approval.

Rozier, wearing a gray suit, didn't speak in court other than to answer the judge's "yes" or "no" questions. He and his lawyer, Jim Trusty, declined to comment after the brief hearing.

Rozier was expected to join his five other co-defendants, their lawyers and prosecutors for a pretrial hearing later Monday. He previously appeared before a federal judge in Orlando on Oct. 23, when prosecutors first announced the indictment.

His attorney denied the charges at the time, saying his client was "not a gambler" and "looks forward to winning this fight."

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