Terry Rozier, currently in the spotlight for criminal sports betting charges, has managed to close the book on another significant matter with the federal government: a staggering $8.2 million tax lien.
On October 29, the IRS officially filed a certificate of release in Broward County, Florida, where Rozier resides. This release confirmed that he has addressed the lien originally assessed in August 2023.
This development came just a day after ESPN broke the news about the lien. Interestingly, this situation emerged a few months post-accusations alleging Rozier’s involvement in a betting scheme related to his performance as a Charlotte Hornets player.
A federal indictment claims that Rozier informed a friend, Deniro Laster, about his intention to leave the game early on March 23, 2023, during a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. Laster and several others allegedly used this information to place significant wagers, totaling $200,000, expecting Rozier to fall short of his statistical averages.
At that point in the season, Rozier was averaging 35.3 minutes on the court and scoring 21.1 points per game. However, his performance that day against the Pelicans was markedly different, as he exited the game less than 10 minutes into the first quarter, finishing with just five points.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, stated last month that Rozier’s actual tax liability was only about $9,000 of the more than $8 million tax bill, and it had been settled.
“We just need the IRS to remove the now-defunct lien,” Trusty noted. The attorney did not respond immediately to an email from Sportico requesting comment.
Following his arrest on October 23, Rozier—now with the Miami Heat—was placed on immediate leave by the NBA. This action drew swift criticism from the NBA Players Association, which announced plans to appeal.
The government alleges that after the March 23 game, Laster made the trip from Philadelphia to Rozier’s residence in Charlotte. There, they reportedly counted the tens of thousands of dollars in profits accrued from the betting scheme. Rozier’s arraignment is on the horizon next month, with his attorney indicating that the player intends to plead not guilty.
