A federal judge sentenced Timothy McCormack to two years in prison on Wednesday, marking the first prison sentence issued in a sports betting conspiracy case linked to insider information involving NBA player prop wagers connected to Terry Rozier and Jontay Porter.
McCormack defrauded sports betting platforms by placing wagers based on nonpublic information that certain players would exit games early, allowing him to successfully bet on under props tied to their statistical performance.
The sentence was imposed by Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall of the Eastern District of New York, and fell below the four-year prison term sought by prosecutors. The defense had requested no incarceration.
McCormack told the court that he had struggled with gambling addiction for much of his adult life. Judge DeArcy Hall acknowledged that claim but emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating that while addiction was a factor, the conduct represented a serious breach of integrity in professional sports.
Prosecutor David Berman said that while McCormack was not the most culpable participant in the scheme, his role was essential to its execution.
According to court documents, McCormack placed six wagers totaling $23,726 on March 23, 2023, betting under on Rozier’s performance props while the guard was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier exited the game after nine minutes, resulting in a payout of approximately $53,887. In separate incidents involving Porter in January and March 2024, McCormack placed bets totaling $15,000 that generated combined profits of $69,250.
Porter, formerly with the Toronto Raptors, pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He has been banned from the NBA and is awaiting sentencing after a previously scheduled hearing was postponed.
Rozier, currently on unpaid leave from the Miami Heat, pleaded not guilty in December to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. He is free on $3m bond and is scheduled to return to court in March.
McCormack also admitted in his plea agreement to obstructing justice by deleting evidence after learning of the federal investigation, though he was not separately charged for that conduct. The case forms part of an ongoing and expanding investigation by federal authorities into sports betting-related corruption.
In October 2025 the FBI announced a nationwide takedown that led to the arrest of 31 individuals, including NBA players, coaches and alleged organised crime associates, as part of a sweeping illegal gambling investigation
