Prosecutor Claim Terry Rozier Co-Defendant Attempted Witness Tampering
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Prosecutor Claim Terry Rozier Co-Defendant Attempted Witness Tampering Federal prosecutors have accused Deniro Laster, a childhood friend of Terry Rozier and co-defendant in the NBA player's gambling case, of attempting to tamper with witnesses, including through social media posts featuring a rat emoji. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a Tuesday court filing that Laster has "repeatedly and flagrantly violated the conditions of his release" and asked a judge to revoke his bond and hold him in custody until trial.
Prosecutors allege Laster attempted to contact co-defendants both directly and through intermediaries, a potential violation of his bond terms. They also said Instagram accounts associated with Laster posted rat emojis on at least two occasions, arguing that combined with his reputation for owning firearms and typically carrying a gun, the posts suggested an intent to intimidate witnesses.
"Revocation of Deniro Laster's bail is the only means of ensuring that he will comply with the Court's orders, refrain from further criminal conduct, preserve the integrity of these proceedings, and protect witnesses or perceived witnesses," prosecutors wrote in the partially redacted filing.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment further but noted a status conference for all defendants in the case is scheduled for Tuesday.
While Laster is not a public figure like Rozier, prosecutors allege he played a central role in the underlying gambling scheme. According to the government, when Rozier told Laster he planned to leave a March 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans early, Laster sold that information to bettors to facilitate fraudulent wagers. Prosecutors say Laster and Rozier agreed to a bribe of roughly $70,000 in exchange for the information.
Rozier's attorneys have pointed to a separate text exchange involving Laster as evidence that Rozier was unaware of the alleged scheme. In a filing last week, Rozier's attorney cited a message in which Laster wrote, "Dont tell chum bout the bet," to an unidentified recipient, noting that "Chum" is a nickname associated with Rozier. Prosecutors responded that they have evidence suggesting the exchange "does not relate to sports gambling."
Rozier and Laster both face charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud, with a trial currently scheduled for Feb. 8, 2027. Both have pleaded not guilty, and Rozier's attorneys have asked a judge to dismiss the charges against him. An attorney for Laster did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ESPN.
Federal prosecutors have accused Deniro Laster, a childhood friend of Terry Rozier and co-defendant in the NBA player’s gambling case, of attempting to tamper with witnesses, including through social media posts featuring a rat emoji. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a Tuesday court filing that Laster has “repeatedly and flagrantly violated the conditions of his release” and asked a judge to revoke his bond and hold him in custody until trial.
Prosecutors allege Laster attempted to contact co-defendants both directly and through intermediaries, a potential violation of his bond terms. They also said Instagram accounts associated with Laster posted rat emojis on at least two occasions, arguing that combined with his reputation for owning firearms and typically carrying a gun, the posts suggested an intent to intimidate witnesses.
“Revocation of Deniro Laster’s bail is the only means of ensuring that he will comply with the Court’s orders, refrain from further criminal conduct, preserve the integrity of these proceedings, and protect witnesses or perceived witnesses,” prosecutors wrote in the partially redacted filing.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment further but noted a status conference for all defendants in the case is scheduled for Tuesday.
While Laster is not a public figure like Rozier, prosecutors allege he played a central role in the underlying gambling scheme. According to the government, when Rozier told Laster he planned to leave a March 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans early, Laster sold that information to bettors to facilitate fraudulent wagers. Prosecutors say Laster and Rozier agreed to a bribe of roughly $70,000 in exchange for the information.
Rozier’s attorneys have pointed to a separate text exchange involving Laster as evidence that Rozier was unaware of the alleged scheme. In a filing last week, Rozier’s attorney cited a message in which Laster wrote, “Dont tell chum bout the bet,” to an unidentified recipient, noting that “Chum” is a nickname associated with Rozier. Prosecutors responded that they have evidence suggesting the exchange “does not relate to sports gambling.”
Rozier and Laster both face charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud, with a trial currently scheduled for Feb. 8, 2027. Both have pleaded not guilty, and Rozier’s attorneys have asked a judge to dismiss the charges against him. An attorney for Laster did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ESPN.
