Prosecutors seek to revoke bond of Terry Rozier associate accused of witness intimidation

Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York have asked a judge to revoke the bond of Deniro Laster, a childhood friend of NBA guard Terry Rozier, alleging a pattern of witness-tampering in the league’s betting probe. The filing claims Laster employed third parties to contact suspected cooperators, told a co-defendant that silence would improve their chances, and used an Instagram account featuring a deceased friend’s image to post a rat emoji aimed at a potential witness.

Authorities also indicated two additional alleged intimidation attempts, which remain undisclosed due to grand-jury secrecy. Rozier is accused of accepting a $100,000 payment to leave a March 2023 Charlotte Hornets game early, a figure later cut to $70,000 after he recorded extra rebounds that affected wagers. His lawyers have presented text messages suggesting he was unaware of the scheme, and Rozier was released by the Miami Heat in April while the case proceeds. If convicted, Rozier faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.