A federal judge has scheduled former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier to stand trial on February 8, 2027, in connection with allegations of game-fixing and providing insider information to sports gamblers.
U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall set the trial date on Wednesday while considering Rozier’s motion to dismiss the charges against him. The case involves accusations that NBA players and high-stakes gamblers conspired to fix games both domestically and internationally.
Prosecutors allege that in March 2023, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Rozier tipped off his childhood friend Deniro Laster that he would be leaving a game early against the New Orleans Pelicans due to an injury. According to the charges, Laster subsequently sold this information to other bettors who could profit from the insider knowledge.
Rozier faces multiple charges including bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. These charges were added in May to a pair of indictments filed in October 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
The former guard, who was traded from the Hornets to the Miami Heat in January 2024, has requested modifications to his bail conditions. Current restrictions prohibit him from communicating with anyone associated with the Charlotte Hornets organization. Rozier’s legal team argues these conditions have effectively terminated his professional basketball career, as he cannot interact with Hornets players even during games.
Jim Trusty, Rozier’s attorney from Ifrah Law, spoke outside the courthouse on Wednesday, stating that his client remains steadfast in maintaining his innocence. Trusty criticized the NBA’s stance on the matter, asserting that the league has violated the presumption of innocence.
The Hornets organization has not taken an official position on Rozier’s motion to modify bail conditions, while the NBA has formally objected to any changes.
Rozier’s co-defendant, Marves Fairley, a 40-year-old sports betting influencer, admitted last month to profiting from insider information provided by players to place fraudulent bets on games in both the United States and China. During his plea hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo, Fairley acknowledged agreeing to pay a player to alter their game performance to gain betting advantages for himself and others.
A second indictment from October 2025 alleges that players participated in rigging poker games with mafia connections using sophisticated card-reading technology. Damon Jones, aged 49, who previously played in the NBA and coached for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has pleaded guilty to charges in both cases.
The case represents one of the most significant sports betting scandals to impact professional basketball in recent years. The allegations span multiple schemes involving both domestic and international gambling operations.
As the February 2027 trial date approaches, the case continues to unfold with potential implications for professional sports integrity and gambling regulations. The judge is currently reviewing Rozier’s dismissal motion while the defendant awaits his opportunity to present his defense in court.
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