Prosecutors Accuse Terry Rozier Co-Defendant of Witness Tampering
Ethan Moore 
Key Takeaways:
- Federal prosecutors seek to revoke Deniro Laster's bond for alleged witness tampering.
- Laster allegedly used rat emojis on Instagram to intimidate potential witnesses in the case.
- Terry Rozier is not accused of participating in the alleged witness intimidation.
Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to revoke Deniro Laster’s bond and hold him in custody until trial, alleging he repeatedly violated his release conditions. Prosecutors claim Terry Rozier’s childhood friend and co-defendant in an ongoing NBA betting case attempted to interfere with witnesses and obstruct justice. The filing does not accuse Rozier of participating in the alleged witness tampering.
Intimidation Allegations and Rat Emojis
According to the filing, Laster called another defendant in approximately December 2025, stating they "would be well positioned to defend the charges against them if they did not cooperate with law enforcement." Prosecutors stated this call violated a bond condition prohibiting Laster from contacting co-defendants outside the presence of counsel. The government also cited at least two occasions when Instagram accounts associated with Laster posted rat emojis, which the filing defines as someone perceived as an informant, raising serious concerns for integrity watchdogs who monitor everything from professional leagues to NCAA March Madness betting.
Prosecutors argue that Laster’s reputation as "someone who had a gun collection and who typically carried a gun" was relevant to how witnesses interpreted the alleged threats. They noted witnesses were aware of his reputation for accessing firearms. Prosecutors wrote that revoking his bail is the only way to "preserve the integrity of these proceedings, and protect witnesses or perceived witnesses."
GMB Association and Betting Scheme Background
The filing identified both men as members of GMB, a group prosecutors say publicly claims access to guns. Rozier’s attorney, David Markus, rejected any suggestion that GMB was a criminal organization, explaining the initials mean "Get More Blessings," a phrase used by Rozier since high school. Markus told The Athletic the filing is "nothing more than a dog whistle and a desperate attempt by the government to taint Terry because it sees its case is falling apart."
Markus also pointed to a 2023 message where Laster allegedly wrote, "Dont tell chum bout the bet," arguing it demonstrates Laster deliberately kept Rozier unaware of the betting activity. Federal prosecutors allege Rozier told Laster he would underperform in a March 23, 2023, game between his Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. This information allegedly led to bettors placing more than $258,700 in wagers on Rozier finishing below various statistical totals, a pattern of high-stakes prop wagering seen across major global hoops markets, including Lega Basket Serie A betting.
A superseding indictment filed in May alleged Rozier accepted a $100,000 bribe to manipulate his performance, which was reduced to approximately $70,000 after his four rebounds caused one wager to lose. Rozier, a 10-year NBA veteran who last played in April 2025, has pleaded not guilty to sports-bribery, honest-services fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. The high-profile scandal has sent shockwaves through the broader sports betting landscape, catching the attention of fans who follow everything from domestic leagues to Chinese Basketball Association betting markets. Both men are scheduled for trial on February 8, 2027.
