Prosecutors have accused De'Niro Laster, a childhood acquaintance of NBA player Terry Rozier, of intimidating witnesses involved in a case surrounding alleged betting manipulation. Laster reportedly sent "rat" emojis to co-defendants as more individuals take plea agreements in return for lighter sentences.
Laster and Rozier have been friends since their high school days in Cleveland, and they both played collegiate sports in Kentucky. However, Laster's attempt at a football career did not reach the NFL, contrasting Rozier's accomplishments in basketball.
Laster is said to have acted as the intermediary in a scheme to influence betting odds based on Rozier's performance. Allegedly, Rozier informed Laster about plans to leave games early while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, and Laster subsequently shared this information with bettors like Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen.
According to an indictment made public in October, Rozier financed Laster's trip to Philadelphia to collect money from Fairley. Allegedly, the two then returned to Charlotte together, where they counted tens of thousands of dollars.
The situation has escalated as more defendants in this betting scheme, along with a separate rigged poker case, have opted to accept plea deals, including Fairley and Hennen. "I agreed to pay a player to change their game performance to give me an advantage on bets I placed for myself and others," Fairley acknowledged in court.
Meanwhile, Rozier maintains his innocence and is seeking dismissal of the charges against him. Prosecutors allege Laster has been using social media to intimidate witnesses, not only by posting rat emojis but also by alluding to a gang known as GMB, which prosecutors claim has ties to firearms.
In one instance, Laster purportedly used an Instagram account featuring a deceased GMB member to post a rat emoji, which Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman claimed was intended to instill fear and suggest violence. Additionally, Laster allegedly warned a co-defendant that remaining silent could prevent them from facing conviction.
Rozier’s attorney, David Markus, referred to these claims as “nothing more than a dog whistle.” He criticized the government for implying a connection to organized crime. "Terry has never been charged with firearms offenses or witness intimidation," Markus stated, asserting that the allegations are a desperate measure by the government as its case weakens. He further clarified that GMB stands for "Get More Blessings," a motto for Rozier's nonprofit, 12 Blessings, which seeks to assist underprivileged children.
Markus also suggested that a message sent by Laster shortly after a March 23 game could exonerate Rozier. Laster's text on March 29 stated, "Dont tell chum bout the bet," where "chum" is Rozier's nickname. The unidentified recipient's response, "Hell no," raised questions about whether this text related to sports gambling, an assertion that prosecutors challenged in a subsequent filing. They articulated that Laster traveled to Rozier’s home on March 29 with cash received from Fairley in connection with Rozier's early exit from the game.
Rozier's trial is set for February 8, 2027.
