Prosecutors to add bribery charges against NBA player Rozier in 2026

Federal prosecutors plan to file new charges against Terry Rozier for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe in a gambling scheme.

New charges announced Federal prosecutors revealed on Monday that they have gathered evidence suggesting Terry Rozier asked for and accepted a bribe as part of an alleged gambling operation. The prosecutors stated they intend to file updated accusations, including sports bribery and honest services wire fraud, against Rozier within the next few weeks. These new charges, expected by mid-May, will frame the NBA as the victim of the scheme according to the Eastern District of New York. The potential for additional charges was first disclosed during a New York court hearing. ## Initial charges and court hearing Rozier is currently facing initial accusations of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering. These charges stem from an investigation into unusual betting patterns on a 2023 NBA game where Rozier participated while playing for the Charlotte Hornets. The hearing on Monday focused on Rozier's attempt to have the initial charges dismissed, but the discussion shifted when prosecutors revealed the possibility of a superseding indictment. The judge did not issue a decision on the motion to dismiss during the session. ## Defense response to new charges Rozier's legal representative, Jim Trusty, who works at Ifrah Law, stated that prosecutors informed him about the potential new charges just two hours before the Monday hearing. Trusty argued that the original legal approach used against Rozier was flawed. He expressed concerns about the government's adjustments in the upcoming indictment, saying 'Our motion to dismiss is based on the idea that they picked an invalid legal theory to prosecute Terry Rozier.' Trusty added, 'We'll see what they do to try to fix that in the superseding indictment, but I expect we'll have problems with it.' ## Details of alleged scheme The federal case involves six men indicted in October regarding a gambling investigation centered on the sharing of confidential NBA information. Prosecutors claim Rozier told his co-defendant and childhood friend Deniro Laster that he would leave a March 23, 2023 game early between the Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans. Laster allegedly passed this information to bettors who placed wagers on Rozier's statistics being below expectations. The bets proved successful after Rozier exited the game after 9 minutes, finishing with 5 points, 2 assists, and 4 rebounds. ## Co-defendant expected to plead guilty Among the co-defendants in the case is former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones, who is anticipated to enter a guilty plea on related charges on Tuesday. The allegations against Jones are part of the broader investigation into the alleged scheme involving the misuse of inside information for betting purposes.