CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Former Charlotte Hornets player has been named in a federal investigation into illegal sports betting and money laundering that allegedly involved current and former NBA players and coaches across the country.
According to an indictment unsealed on Thursday, Terry Rozier, 31, is accused of sharing inside information about his own games while with the Hornets to help others place bets.
Prosecutors stated that the scheme utilized a private team and medical details to place fraudulent wagers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, using private locker rooms and medical information to enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. in a statement. “Insider betting schemes erode the integrity of American sports, and this Office will continue in its strong tradition of holding accountable anyone who seeks to corrupt sports through illegal means.”
The indictment lists Rozier alongside five others, identified as Eric Earnest, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen, Damon Jones, and Deniro Laster, who now face charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
Federal officials allege that on March 23, 2023, Rozier tipped off longtime friend, Laster, that he planned to leave a Hornets game early due to an injury. Laster and others reportedly used that confidential information to bet more than $200,000 on Rozier’s “under” stats.

Prosecutors said Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes, and the bets paid off, generating tens of thousands of dollars in winnings.
According to court documents, “Laster collected the cash and drove through the night to Rozier’s house, where together they counted the profits together.”
Rozier was arrested this week in Florida. He played for the Hornets from 2019 until his trade to the Miami Heat in January 2024, where he remains on the roster.
If convicted, Rozier faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the two federal charges.
Queen City News has reached out to the Charlotte Hornets for comment but has not yet received a response.