Former University of Louisville basketball star Terry Rozier was among 31 individuals arrested Wednesday in a federal investigation into illegal sports gambling with alleged ties to organized crime, according to multiple reports.
The FBI conducted the arrests as part of a probe into an illegal gambling operation that authorities say involved multiple NBA players and coaches, as well as individuals with connections to the Mafia. Rozier, currently a guard for the Miami Heat, is accused of betting on NBA games, a violation of league rules. Details of the specific allegations against Rozier have not yet been publicly released.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, centers around a sophisticated poker operation allegedly run by a Staten Island mobster, according to SILive.com. Authorities allege the operation facilitated illegal wagers on a variety of sporting events, including NBA games.
A Louisville man is also among those arrested, according to WAVE News, highlighting the investigation’s reach beyond the NBA. The FBI has not released the names of all those arrested, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The Miami Heat have acknowledged they are aware of the reports regarding Rozier and are cooperating with authorities. The NBA has stated It’s also investigating the matter and will take appropriate action based on the findings. League rules prohibit players and coaches from engaging in any form of sports betting, even on games in which they are not involved.
The arrests come amid increasing scrutiny of the relationship between professional sports and the growing legal sports betting industry. Federal authorities have warned of the potential for criminal organizations to exploit the expansion of sports betting to engage in illegal activities.
The FBI has not yet commented on the specific connections between the gambling operation and organized crime, but reports indicate that individuals with known ties to the Mafia were involved in the scheme. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are possible.
