Feds Say Rozier Friend Threatening Witnesses in NBA Gambling Case
Prosecutors say De'Niro Laster has been intimidating witnesses on social media.
Federal prosecutors are seeking to reinstate Terry Rozier's friend, De’Niro Laster, in jail due to allegations that he has attempted to influence witnesses, including through threats. Laster, Rozier's childhood friend, was first charged in the government's extensive sports betting case last October. The indictment alleges that Rozier, while still with the Hornets, informed Laster to feign injury and leave a March 2023 game early.
Laster, who has been on bond since, allegedly sold this information to multiple co-conspirators, who then bet against Rozier for approximately $100,000. The government accuses Laster of obstructing justice and attempting to tamper with witnesses through intimidation, as well as via social media posts featuring a rat emoji, which is interpreted as a reference to a snitch.
The government also expresses concerns about a "GMB" crew, comprising Laster, Rozier, and other associates, due to potential access to firearms and their online display of guns. Rozier's attorney, David Markus, dismisses the government's claims, stating that "GMB" is a nickname for his nonprofit foundation, 12 Blessings, and that Rozier has never been charged with any firearms offenses or witness intimidation.
Rozier is scheduled to go on trial for his alleged role in the federal gambling probe on February 8, 2027.
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