Writers Note: This story is actively developing with new information consistently dropping. Keep checking back for our live coverage into the matter and keep up with all of Bear Sports News socials for breaking news. We reached out to the Miami Heat for comment on the matter but they declined.
This morning, multiple NBA insiders reported that Terry Rozier was arrested after the game last night VS the Orlando Magic. Officials wouldn’t comment on what Rozier was arrested for, but his agent, Aaron Turner, confirmed it was related to the federal probe. Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested, and ABC reported this morning that former player and coach, Damon Jones was also arrested.
This all stems from a months-long investigation from the DOJ and the FBI into the matter of sports betting.
Rozier had been under federal investigation for allegedly manipulating his performance in a 2023 game as part of an illegal gambling operation. The core of Rozier’s arrest stems from a March 2023 game that saw a huge spike in his unders. He exited that specific game just nine minutes in, citing a foot injury. As well as missing the rest of the that game on March 23rd, Rozier did not play another game that season.
Thirty bets were placed in the span of 46 minutes. A sportsbook received $13,759 in wagers, all included Rozier’s unders on points, assists and rebounds.
This activity was enough to be noticed by U.S. Integrity, which monitors betting markets for abnormalities.
U.S. Integrity notified six sports books and the NBA. In less then a hour, the major sports books stopped taking any Terry Rozier props. He finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
All 30 of the bets won that night.
The NBA conducted an internal review into Terry Rozier’s alleged involvement in betting activity and determined that no league rules had been violated. As a result, multiple outlets reported that Rozier had been cleared by the league. According to ESPN, Rozier’s attorney stated that the Miami Heat guard is no longer part of the ongoing federal investigation. However, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York declined to confirm or deny his current status in the case.
This same federal probe previously led to Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter being charged with a felony and receiving a lifetime ban from the NBA in April 2024. Free-agent guard Malik Beasley has also drawn scrutiny from both federal authorities and the NBA for alleged prop bet activity dating back to January 2024, when he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Beasley has not been charged at this time.
Additional reporting by Yahoo Sports contributor Tom Haberstroh, along with Meadowlark Media’s Pablo Torre and Amin Elhassan on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, connected the three players through a figure operating under the alias “Moose.” The same investigation suggested Beasley’s potential involvement months before it became public, following Rozier’s initial mention in the case.
UPDATE: 10:04 AM ET
Terry Rozier’s lawyer gives a statement to Pablo Torre.
“We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year. A long time ago we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel. It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.” —Jim Trusty, attorney for Terry Rozier
UPDATE: 11:20 AM ET
Federal authorities have now offered extensive new details in the gambling investigation that led to the arrests of Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones. Below is what is now known:
Custodies, Courts & Scope
There are about 31 people in custody, according to one remark made during the press conference. Terry Rozier is expected to appear in federal court this afternoon in Orlando, Florida, while Chauncey Billups is slated to appear in federal court in Portland today. Later, both will be arraigned in New York. The investigation — dubbed “Operation Royal Flush” — spans 11 states and has been underway for multiple years. Though one press remark cited 34 defendants in the indictments, not all are yet in custody. Among them are 13 individuals affiliated with the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families, per the FBI’s New York field office.
What the Indictments Allege
Terry Rozier
Prosecutors allege that Rozier told co-defendant Deniro Laster, before the March 23, 2023 Hornets game, that he would self-injure/exit early to allow betting on his “unders.” Laster was allegedly paid $100,000 for that tip from Marves Fairley. Another defendant, Shane Hennen, is accused of betting $61,200 on various prop bets (e.g. Rozier unders). He is further accused of organizing a syndicate of bettors, in total wagering $259,000 on Rozier’s performance. Rozier reportedly exited that game after only 9 minutes, 34 seconds. Winnings from the bets were allegedly delivered to Rozier’s home via associates. The DOJ characterizes this as part of “insider trading saga for the NBA.” FBI Director Kash Patel called the scheme “mind boggling,” citing tens of millions of dollars in fraud, theft, and robbery.
Damon Jones
Though Jones was never formally employed by the Lakers, the federal complaint alleges he conveyed non-public information (e.g. who might sit out or leave early) to co-conspirators to facilitate betting gains. In one example, before the Feb. 9, 2023 Lakers–Bucks game, Jones is accused of texting that a player was out (before the injury report) and urging bets on the Bucks. He also allegedly gave tips concerning the 2023–24 Lakers season, including identifying “Player 4” (a top Laker that season).
Other Schemes & Games
In connection with a March 24, 2023 Blazers game, an unnamed co-conspirator allegedly told Eric Earnest that Portland was “tanking” and that a certain player would sit. Information Earnest passed along, which Marves Fairley then used to place bets (~$100,000). The DOJ says the two indictments cover 34 defendants, many from organized crime factions. The case is not just about “bad actors in sports,” but alleges deep ties to established criminal networks.
Cooperation & League Landscape
The NBA cooperated with the investigation, according to remarks during questioning. The probe is not related to college sports. The FBI has also been looking into match-fixing in collegiate athletics; at least five universities are reportedly under scrutiny. Patel defended the aggressive federal pursuit, noting it “isn’t popular” to target high-profile individuals. He invoked the maxim: “Justice is blind.” Rozier’s attorney criticized the arrest strategy, alleging the DOJ refused a voluntary surrender and orchestrated a “perp walk” for optics. The article’s original note on prior cases remains relevant: Jontay Porter was charged in this sweep (receiving a lifetime NBA ban), and Malik Beasley has drawn suspicion. Importantly, though Jones wasn’t officially a Lakers employee, he was given access to restricted areas (locker rooms, team flights) presumably through his association with LeBron James.
UPDATE: 12:19 PM ET
NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2025 – The NBA issued the following statement today:
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
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