Former Louisville Guard Terry Rozier arrested in sports betting investigation
WASHINGTON (ABC News) – The FBI has announced a sweeping nationwide crackdown on illegal gambling and sports rigging operations that federal officials say have ties to current and former NBA players and coaches.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the coordinated takedown spanned 11 states and resulted in the arrests of more than 30 individuals involved in what he described as “an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years.”
Federal authorities say the investigation uncovered two separate but related schemes involving poker and sports betting.
Among those arrested were Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier — taken into custody in Orlando just hours after his team’s loss to the Magic — and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones. Prosecutors allege the two provided inside information about NBA games that co-defendants used to place illegal wagers.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said, “The first indictment involves six defendants. This scheme is an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about National Basketball Association athletes and teams.”
Officials also announced that Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in a separate but connected gambling case involving 31 defendants accused of rigging high-stakes poker games. Billups coached in the team’s season opener last night and is scheduled to appear in court today.
“My message to the defendants who have been rounded up today,” Nocella added, “Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out. Violating the law is a losing proposition — and you can bet on that.”
Rozier’s attorney issued a statement saying, “Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
This comes after last year’s high-profile case involving former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was banned from the NBA for life after betting on his own team to lose and sharing insider information with gamblers.
