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Defense lawyers for NBA player Terry Rozier claim that newly cited text messages prove that he had no knowledge of an alleged insider betting scheme.
The text message in question came in March 2023 from friend and co-defendant Deniro Laster. It says, “Don’t tell Chum about the bet” (with “Chum” being Rozier’s nickname). Rozier’s lawyers maintain that it proves he had no involvement with the scheme.
Because of this new text message, the lawyers have filed a motion asking a federal judge to dismiss two of the four charges against him, the ones related to sports bribery and wire fraud.
Prosecutors added the new bribery charges in April, alleging that Rozier accepted bribes to throw an NBA game on March 23, 2023. The defending lawyers say that the text messages exchanged around that date show the others involved actively working to hide the wager and scheme from Rozier.
They say this shows Rozier was not involved in the process at all and he did not intentionally throw his stats in the 2023 Charlotte Hornets vs. New Orleans Pelicans game.
But the prosecutors argue that the text does not relate to sports gambling or any alleged betting conspiracy. It could therefore be unrelated to this case and does not clear Rozier.
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Laster Accused of Witness Tampering on Instagram
Meanwhile, Laster himself is in even hotter water, as prosecutors accuse him of attempting to tamper with witnesses. Contacting any witnesses would violate his bond. He allegedly used his Instagram accounts to post rat emojis, intended to intimidate witnesses with a threat.
Authorities revoked his bail in response. The U.S. District Attorney’s office explained why:
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
The trial for both Rozier and Laster is set for Feb. 8, 2027.
Who is Deniro Laster?
Deniro Laster is the lesser-known key figure in the story of the well-known NBA player Rozier. Laster is Rozier’s childhood friend and allegedly a big part of this scheme.
Like Rozier, Laster grew up in northern Ohio. He played football at Cleveland Heights High School before moving on to a journeyman college football career as a linebacker. He played a limited role at three different schools: Kentucky, Minnesota, and NC Central from 2014-2017.
Laster goes by the nicknames “Peso,” “Payso,” and “Niro.” Prosecutors say Laster and Rozier accepted a $70,000 bribe to fix Rozier’s stats.
Image credit: Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons (license)
