Timothy McCormack, who identifies as a gambling addict, was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday, becoming the first individual penalized in a large-scale conspiracy involving NBA players Terry Rozier and Jontay Porter.
A federal judge in Brooklyn imposed the sentence on McCormack, who deceived sports betting platforms by utilizing confidential information to place highly lucrative bets connected to the performance of NBA players allegedly involved in the scheme.
“I have battled a gambling addiction for over half my life,” McCormack stated during his sentencing.
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall’s ruling was less than the four-year sentence that the government had requested, while the defense argued for no prison time at all.
“He suffers from an addiction,” DeArcy Hall remarked. “I don’t think the actions Mr. McCormack took define his entire being.”
The judge also concurred with federal prosecutors that McCormack compromised the integrity of sports.
“There is no doubt this is a grave offense,” DeArcy Hall stated. “Sports are important to me as an individual, as they should be to society.”
Prosecutor David Berman acknowledged that McCormack was “not as blameworthy as some of his co-conspirators,” yet remarked that he played a role in a “cold, hard fraud.”
“Without individuals like the defendant, these schemes would not be possible,” Berman told the judge.
Rozier, currently on unpaid leave from the Miami Heat, pleaded not guilty in December to charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, related to allegations he assisted friends in winning bets based on his statistical performance in a game from March 2023, while he was still with the Charlotte Hornets.
He is out on a $3 million bond and is not anticipated to return to court until March.
Porter pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in 2024, admitting he conspired to remove himself from games for gambling reasons. He has received a lifetime ban from the NBA and is awaiting sentencing.
Aaron Katersky of ABC News contributed to this report.
