Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who has been suspended and is currently on unpaid leave, is actively seeking to have the federal government’s charges against him dismissed. His legal team filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, arguing that prosecutors overreached in bringing federal charges in what they describe as a matter that should be governed by state law rather than federal law.
Rozier, 31, was arrested in October 2025 and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with an expansive sports gambling investigation. He pleaded not guilty and is currently free on a $3 million bond.
Basis for the Motion
His attorney, Jim Trusty, contends that the indictment fails to clearly articulate Terry direct involvement and that the government mischaracterizes the conduct as “insider betting” and “rigging” professional basketball games. Trusty argues the conduct cited in the indictment largely amounts to bettors violating sportsbooks’ terms of use rather than actionable federal crimes under the applicable statute.
The motion also invokes a U.S. Supreme Court decision from 2023 that narrowed the scope of the federal wire fraud statute, asserting that prosecutors cannot use it to pursue a case based on allegedly vague or contract-like violations. If the wire fraud count is dismissed, the associated money laundering charge — which depends on the fraud count — could also fall away.
Details from the Case
Federal prosecutors allege that prop bets worth more than $250,000 were placed based on non-public information allegedly provided by Rozier to a friend, Deniro “Niro” Laster, about him leaving a March 2023 game early due to injury — information that was not on the official injury report at the time. Rozier’s lawyers maintain that he did not place any bets and did not know that the information would be shared for wagering purposes. Terry
The charges are part of a broader investigation involving more than 30 other individuals tied to sports wagering activities and related offenses.
What Happens Next
The judge will consider the motion in the coming weeks. If the court grants the motion to dismiss, the federal case against Rozier could effectively end. If not, the case will proceed toward further litigation or trial. Rozier is scheduled to appear before the court again in March 2026.
