Judge Denies Former NBA Guard Terry Rozier’s Request to Modify Bail Conditions

U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall in Brooklyn federal court rejected a defense request on Wednesday to relax the bail terms that bar former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier from contacting certain players and from traveling abroad. The judge said allowing Rozier to practice or play with potential witnesses could not be reliably monitored, and she noted a recent text from Rozier to a prohibited contact as evidence that he “believes he knows better than the court.” DeArcy Hall indicated she will consider any travel request only after Rozier signs an NBA contract.

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Rozier, 32, faces federal bribery and conspiracy charges tied to a 2023 gambling scheme. Prosecutors allege he accepted a $70,000 payoff to exit a March 2023 game early, enabling bettors to profit from lowered statistical lines. A co-defendant, Deniro “Niro” Laster, allegedly disseminated the information, resulting in more than $250,000 in bets. Rozier has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in February. An arbitrator ordered the Heat to pay his $26.6 million salary for the 2023-24 season, and he remains a free agent after the Heat released him in April.

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Judge DeArcy Hall emphasized that the bail conditions are not a prohibition on NBA participation but a consequence of the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Farrell warned that lifting the travel ban could enable flight risk. Defense attorney David Markus, who recently replaced Jim Trusty as lead counsel, argued that the restrictions could be interpreted by teams as a de-facto ban on playing, and he proposed on-court monitoring of Rozier’s on-court interactions—a suggestion the judge dismissed as ineffective.

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Markus contended that the bail terms unfairly jeopardize Rozier’s career, stating his client “would never sacrifice his career or the ability to see his family for a life on the lam.” He also characterized the prosecutor’s travel-restriction argument as “out of bounds,” insisting the charges should not dictate Rozier’s professional future.

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• “What that tells me is that he believes he knows better than the court,” — Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall

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• “violated the court's trust with that text message.” — Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall

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• “Unless you're suiting up, it doesn't help me,” — Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall

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• “I wish we were starting trial in this case because Terry is innocent and we want to show the world that he had no involvement in this,” — David Markus, lead attorney

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• “It is not a directive that he cannot play in the NBA,” — Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall

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• “out of bounds” — David Markus, responding to the prosecutor’s travel-risk claim

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