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Another layer to Heat guard Terry Rozier’s alleged role in the NBA sports betting scheme is coming to light after ESPN found records that showed he was facing an $8 million tax lien from the IRS.
According to Broward County, Florida, clerk records obtained by the Worldwide Leader in Sports, the IRS filed a federal income tax lien of $8,218,211 on Rozier in November 2023.
The lien was filed the same year Rozier — who was then playing for the Hornets — is alleged to have pulled himself from an NBA game as part of the illegal sports betting scheme.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier III (2) drives to shoot against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThere was no lien release on record, according to ESPN. The IRS has 30 days after a debt payment has been made to file a lien release.
Records in Broward County showed a construction lien filed against Rozier in August 2022, for which $250,000 of the $271,000 lien was paid off by July 2023.
The FBI has arrested 31 people involved in a rigged poker game ring backed by the New York City organized crime families.
- Ernest Aiello — reputed Bonanno mobster
- Nelson “Spanish G” Alvarez
- Louis “Lou Ap” Apicella
- Ammar “Flapper Poker” Awawdeh
- Saul Becher — professional poker player
- Chauncey Billups — Portland Trail Blazers coach, NBA Hall of Famer and 2004 NBA champion
- Matthew “The Wrestler” Daddino
- Eric “Spooky” Earnest
- Lee Fama — professional poker player
- John Gallo
- Marco Garzon
- Thomas “Tommy Juice” Gelardo — reputed Lucchese mobster charged in 2013 for beating porn star girlfriend
- Jamie Gilet
- Tony “Black Tony” Goodson
- Kenny Han
- Shane “Sugar” Henne
- Osman “Albanian Bruce” Hoti
- Horatio Hu
- Zhen “Scruli” Hu
- Damon “Dee Jones” Jones — NBA player from 1998 to 2009
- Joseph Lanni
- John “John South” Mazzola
- Curtis Meeks
- Nicholas Minucci
- Michael Renzulli
- Anthony Ruggiero Jr.
- Anthony “Doc” Shnayderman
- Robert “Black Rob” Stroud
- Seth Trustman
- Sophia “Pookie” Wei
- Julius Ziliani
Federal prosecutors allege that Rozier pulled himself from a March 23, 2023, game between the Hornets and Pelicans in a premeditated move to impact prop bets. He allegedly told a friend of his plans, who then sold the information for close to $100,000.
The Heat player is facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“The non-public information included when specific players would be sitting out future games, or when they would pull themselves out early for purported injuries or illnesses,” U.S. attorney Joseph Nocella said after the sprawling busts that led to 31 arrests in two separate alleged schemes. “They relied on corrupt individuals, including [ex-NBA player Damon Jones] and Rozier. They also misused information through longstanding friendships they had with NBA players and coaches.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“And in at least one instance, they got their information by threatening a current player, [Jontay] Porter, because of his pre-existing gambling debts.”
Rozier was arrested along with Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Jones, a former player and assistant coach. Billups is accused of being a “face card” in an alleged mafia-linked poker scheme. Jones was named in both the sports betting and poker cases.
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