(TJV NEWS) Members of an illegal gambling ring are accused of sharing non-public NBA information about the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Toronto Raptors, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Federal prosecutors said the teams themselves were unaware of or uninvolved in the scheme — but inside information about player injuries and game availability was allegedly passed to bettors who used it for profit.

Those named in the 31-person indictment include Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones, 49, both of whom are accused of participating in what the DOJ called a “sports rigging” and mob-connected illegal poker ring.

As detailed in the FBI’s probe, which ran from January 2022 through March 2024, Rozier and Jones allegedly shared insider updates about injuries and inactive rosters to help associates place lucrative wagers.

According to the indictment, Jones — a longtime friend of LeBron James — allegedly texted members of the ring on February 9, 2023, that James would miss the Lakers’ matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out!” Jones allegedly wrote.

The Lakers went on to lose that game. James himself is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Joseph Nocella Jr., the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said:

“Defendants used this non-public information to place hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent bets, mostly in the form of prop bets on individual player performance.”

He added that the group used “straw bettors” to avoid detection and maximize profits, resulting in millions of dollars in illicit gains.

The indictment further alleges that while Rozier was still with the Charlotte Hornets, he tipped off friends that he intended to leave the March 23, 2023, game early with an injury. His associates then wagered over $200,000 on the “under” for his individual prop bets.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Rozier indeed exited the game after only nine minutes — and that his friends reportedly went to his home afterward to celebrate and “count their winnings.”

Rozier was arrested Thursday morning in Orlando, just hours after the Heat’s loss to the Orlando Magic, according to the New York Post.

Each defendant in the case faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, the Post reported.