Federal prosecutors are requesting that the bond of Deniro Laster, an alleged co-conspirator of NBA player Terry Rozier, be revoked due to accusations of repeated witness tampering. Laster, described as a childhood friend of Rozier, is accused of attempting to influence individuals believed to be cooperating with authorities in an NBA betting case.
In a court filing submitted Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York detailed Laster's alleged methods, which include using third parties to contact potential witnesses and urging a co-defendant to remain silent. Prosecutors also allege that an Instagram account linked to Laster posted a "rat emoji" directed at an alleged witness, which they contend was intended as intimidation. The prosecution noted that this post originated from an account featuring an image of a deceased member of Laster and Rozier's childhood friend group, a group they claim has a reputation for possessing firearms.
Prosecutors stated they are aware of two additional potential witness-tampering incidents but have not disclosed details as they involve protected grand jury material.
The case against Rozier centers on accusations that he accepted a $100,000 bribe to leave a March 2023 Charlotte Hornets game early, having allegedly tipped off Laster about the plan, who then passed the information to bettors. The payment was reportedly later reduced to $70,000 because Rozier exceeded the rebound threshold before exiting, which caused some bets to lose.
Attorneys for Rozier have previously cited text messages they claim demonstrate his lack of knowledge regarding the betting scheme. One such message, allegedly sent by Laster six days after the March 2023 game, reportedly reads, “Dont tell chum bout the bet.” Rozier's defense has argued this indicates he was unaware of the bet, stating, “One does not hide a bet from the person who supposedly sold it.”
If convicted, Rozier faces up to 20 years in prison. He was released by the Miami Heat in April amid the ongoing investigation.