Rumors

David Payne Purdum: In a new court filing, federal prosecutors allege Terry Rozier and a co-conspirator photographed themselves "counting the cash" from an alleged betting scheme involving a March 23, 2023 game that Rozier left early.

Twitter

A federal judge revoked the bond of Deniro Laster, a co-defendant in the NBA gambling case and a childhood friend of former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, on Tuesday afternoon for violating the conditions of his bond that included attempted witness intimidation by posting rat emojis on Instagram and contacting co-defendants and potential witnesses when there was a no-contact order.

ESPN

Prosecutors have alleged Rozier told Laster he would leave a March 23, 2023 game between his Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans early with an injury. Laster allegedly provided sports bettors with that information, allowing the bettors to make bets on the under on Rozier's statistics. Rozier and Laster allegedly agreed to a roughly $70,000 bribe for that information.

ESPN

Mike Vorkunov: A lawyer for US Attorney's Office for EDNY and the federal judge overseeing the case both said that feds didn't mean to imply Terry Rozier was part of a gang in the filing in tweet below. "The gov't is not alleging that Mr. Rozier is part of a gang," a DOJ lawyer said in court.

x.com

Federal prosecutors want to put Terry Rozier’s childhood friend and alleged co-conspirator back in jail over claims he has tried to influence witnesses, including through threats. Rozier’s attorney says this is a “desperate attempt” by the government to portray the former NBA guard and his associates in a negative light. De’Niro Laster was first charged in the government’s sprawling sports betting case last October. According to the indictment, Rozier—while he was still on the Hornets—informed Laster he would pretend to be hurt and prematurely take himself out of a March 2023 game. Laster then allegedly sold that information to multiple co-conspirators, who bet the under on multiple Rozier lines for about $100,000.

Front Office Sports

Laster, who has been free on bond, has violated the conditions of his release, according to the government, which has accused him of obstructing justice and tampering with witnesses by attempting to influence their testimony and intimidating them, including through social media posts. “The government must prepare for trial and should not be put in the untenable position of having to instead direct its efforts towards constantly re-investigating a defendant on bond who is repeatedly attempting to tamper with the judicial process,” prosecutors said in a significantly redacted 13-page letter filed with the Eastern District of New York on Wednesday.

Front Office Sports

The government also has concerns about a “crew” called “GMB” that includes Laster, Rozier, and other friends. Prosecutors say that group has shown they have “access to guns” through photos on social media posted prior to the charges that were brought in this case. The “online flaunting of gun access” has contributed to the government’s concerns about potential threats. Rozier’s attorney, David Markus, tells Front Office Sports that “GMB” stands for “Get More Blessings.” That’s the motto of Rozier’s nonprofit foundation, 12 Blessings, he says, which “raises money to empower disadvantaged kids.”

Front Office Sports

“The nickname started with Terry’s high school basketball team,” Markus says. “The government’s attempt to imply that it was some sort of criminal organization is absurd. Terry has never been charged with any firearms offense or with intimidating a witness, and nothing in this filing alleges that he did either. It 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.” “In this case, GMB stands for ‘government’s massive blunder,’” Markus adds.

Front Office Sports

Terry Rozier has asked a federal judge to throw out two of the four charges brought against him over the last year by the U.S. Department of Justice. In a new filing Friday, lawyers for Rozier said that the NBA veteran never agreed to manipulate his performance for the sake of sports gamblers and that Rozier did not know that anyone was betting on his stats during a March 23, 2023, game while he was with the Charlotte Hornets, as federal prosecutors have alleged.

New York Times

Pablo Torre: UPDATE: Ammar Awawdeh — the co-conspirator @pablofindsout reported on in Part I of our NBA gambling investigation, across the cases of Malik Beasley, Jontay Porter, and Terry Rozier — has just reached a plea agreement with the Department of Justice. ????

x.com

Mike Vorkunov: "I wish we were starting trial on this case because Terry is innocent and we look forward to showing the world that he had no involvement in this," David Markus, Terry Rozier's new lawyer, said after the hearing.

bsky.app

Mike Vorkunov: Terry Rozier contacted one person on the government's no contact list. His lawyer said it was just to let the person know he couldn't talk to them because they were on that list. "You violated the court's trust when you sent this text message," federal judge LaShann DeArcy Hall said.

bsky.app

Mike Vorkunov: Someone may need to correct the record, however. The judge and Rozier's counsel agreed there are 32 NBA teams. Maybe they know the lowdown on NBA expansion.

bsky.app

Mike Vorkunov: Spicy day in Brooklyn federal court as Terry Rozier made his latest appearance. A federal judge denied his request to remove certain ex-Hornets players + coaches from no contact list. Rozier's new lawyer has asked judge to move the case to South Florida. Trial date still Feb. 8.

bsky.app