TLDR
- Federal prosecutors want Deniro Laster’s bond revoked and want him held until trial.
- Laster is accused of contacting a co-defendant and posting rat emojis to intimidate witnesses.
- The filing does not accuse Terry Rozier of any tampering.
- Rozier’s attorney calls the government’s reference to “GMB” a dog whistle.
- The case centers on a 2023 Hornets-Pelicans game tied to more than $258,700 in bets.
Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to revoke Deniro Laster’s bond. They want him held in custody until his trial begins.
Laster is Terry Rozier’s childhood friend and co-defendant in the NBA betting case. Prosecutors say he broke his release conditions more than once.
They allege he tried to interfere with the case by contacting a witness. The filing does not accuse Rozier of taking part in any tampering.
According to the filing, Laster called another defendant in December 2025. He allegedly said the group would be fine if they avoided cooperating with law enforcement.
That call may have broken a bond condition. The condition bars Laster from contacting co-defendants without a lawyer present.
Instagram Posts Raise Concerns
Prosecutors point to two Instagram posts linked to accounts tied to Laster. Both posts included rat emojis.
The filing says the emojis were meant to insult and intimidate a potential witness. It defines a rat as someone seen as a snitch or informant.
Prosecutors also raised Laster’s reputation. They say he is known for owning guns and often carrying one.
They argue this reputation shaped how witnesses understood the alleged threats. Witnesses reportedly knew about his access to firearms.
Prosecutors wrote that revoking Laster’s bail is the only way to protect the case. They said it would help protect witnesses going forward.
Laster’s attorney had not made a public statement about the claims as of Wednesday.
Rozier’s Attorney Pushes Back
Rozier’s lawyer, David Markus, criticized part of the filing. He rejected the idea that a group called GMB was any kind of criminal organization.
Markus said GMB stands for “Get More Blessings.” He said Rozier and his friends adopted the phrase in high school, and Rozier’s charity uses it too.
He called the government’s argument a dog whistle. Markus said Rozier has never faced gun charges or witness intimidation claims.
Markus also pointed to a 2023 message from Laster. Laster wrote “Dont tell chum bout the bet,” and Chum is a nickname for Rozier.
Markus said the message shows Laster was keeping Rozier in the dark about the betting scheme. Prosecutors disagree with that reading.
They say evidence suggests the text exchange has nothing to do with sports betting at all.
The case centers on a March 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans. Prosecutors say Rozier told Laster in advance that he would underperform.
Laster and others allegedly shared that tip with bettors. Wagers on Rozier’s stats totaled more than $258,700.
A May indictment claims Rozier took a $100,000 bribe for the scheme. Prosecutors say the payout was later cut to about $70,000 after his four rebounds caused one bet to lose.
Rozier pleaded not guilty to sports bribery and honest-services fraud charges. Laster also pleaded not guilty in the case.
Both men face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Their trial is set to begin February 8, 2027.
