Former NBA Player Terry Rozier Seeks Dismissal of Federal Sports Bribery, Wire Fraud Charges

Lawyers for former NBA player Terry Rozier, who is fighting federal gambling-related charges, have filed a motion asking a federal judge to dismiss two of the four charges against him: sports bribery and honest services wire fraud.

Rozier’s lawyers are arguing that a March 2023 text message from co-defendant Deniro Laster, a friend of Rozier, proves that Rozier was not involved in any sports gambling scheme.

Laster reportedly texted someone not to tell Rozier about a prop bet placed on him six days earlier, while Rozier was playing for the National Basketball Association (NBA) Charlotte Hornets.

Defense Challenges Charges

“Don’t tell chum ‘bout the bet,” the text read, according to Reuters reporting. “Chum” was Rozier’s nickname.

Rozier’s lawyers are arguing that he didn’t know anyone was gambling on his play in a March 23, 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans and never agreed to change his play to work with sports gamblers in return for a $100,000 payout. If the alleged conspirators were telling each other not to tell Rozier about the bet, it shows he wasn’t part of the alleged scheme.

Text Message Evidence

Prosecutors have alleged that Rozier did, in fact, tip off associates, including gamblers, that he would leave the game in question early, allowing bettors to wager and then cash in on the under on his player props that night.

Federal prosecutors said the text message from Laster does not relate to sports gambling or any alleged betting conspiracy, and they have evidence from sources indicating that. The charges should therefore remain in place.

Prosecutors Push Back

In December, Rozier’s attorneys asked the judge to dismiss the two other charges Rozier faces – wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering – but the judge has yet to rule on that.

On June 22, it was reported that the NBA and the Hornets were backing federal prosecutors in their effort to maintain bond restrictions on Rozier, which ban the former player from contacting current or former members of the team as he awaits trial. That bond restriction has blocked Rozier from resuming his NBA career.  He last played with the Miami Heat and was released by the team in April.

Career Remains On Hold

Rozier was originally arrested and indicted in October 2025, with the sports bribery and honest services wire fraud conspiracy charges added on this past May. He’s pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

Rozier is set to go to trial in February 2027.