Timothy McCormack, who identifies as a gambling addict, was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday, marking him as the first individual to receive a sentence in a large-scale conspiracy involving NBA athletes Terry Rozier and Jontay Porter.
A federal judge based in Brooklyn issued the sentence to McCormack, who deceived sports betting platforms by leveraging confidential information to place highly lucrative bets connected to the performance of NBA players allegedly involved in the conspiracy.
«I have battled a gambling addiction for over half of my life,» McCormack stated during his sentencing.
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall’s ruling was less than the four-year term that the government requested. The defense requested a sentence that did not involve incarceration.
«He is dealing with an addiction,» DeArcy Hall remarked. «I don’t think the actions Mr. McCormack undertook are a true reflection of who he is.»
The judge additionally concurred with federal prosecutors that McCormack compromised integrity in sports.
«There is no doubt that this is a serious offense,» DeArcy Hall remarked. «Sports are significant to me personally, and they should be to society.»
Prosecutor David Berman acknowledged that McCormack was «not as guilty as some of his fellow conspirators,» but asserted he played a part in a «cold, hard fraud.»
«Without individuals like the defendant, these operations cannot succeed,» Berman stated to the judge.
Rozier, currently on unpaid leave from the Miami Heat, pled not guilty in December to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money related to allegations that he assisted friends in winning bets concerning his statistical performance in a game held in March 2023, while he was a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
He remains free on a $3 million bond and is not anticipated to return to court until March.
Porter admitted guilt in 2024 for conspiring to intentionally remove himself from games for gambling purposes. He has been banned from the NBA and awaits sentencing.
Aaron Katersky of ABC News contributed to this report.
