Following a no-nonsense motion from Terry Rozier’s defense, federal prosecutors wasted no time firing back. They’re pushing back on the NBA player’s claim that he knew nothing about the alleged gambling scheme involving his performance on the court.
In a new 47-page filing, prosecutors revealed new text messages, including one in which Rozier’s co-defendant, Deniro Laster, allegedly offered another NBA player a chance to make $100,000. The government also disclosed new details about alleged payments to co-conspirators and warned of a “potential conflict” involving Rozier’s lead defense attorney.
Prosecutors revisited the alleged $100,000 bribe for leaving a March 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans early, allowing pals and associates to profit on bets that he would finish below certain stats. But as the defense pointed out, Rozier recorded four rebounds before leaving the game. This exceeded the 3.5-rebound betting line offered by several sportsbooks.
Some bets were lost, and the feds allege the conspirators lowered the payment from $100,000 to $70,000. Days later, Laster allegedly traveled to Philadelphia to collect a duffel bag containing $70,000 in cash.
The filing also revealed a text that Rozier allegedly sent Laster: “Ima count the money when we back.” Prosecutors say Rozier and Laster were photographed counting money in Rozier’s kitchen about 90 minutes later. The government says less than a week after that, Laster texted co-conspirator Marves Fairley that he and Rozier were setting up another unders bet, but this one would involve one of Rozier’s then-teammates.
Around the same time, the feds allege Laster reached out directly to a different then-NBA player he was friendly with and wrote: “Lmk if u tryna make 100k gang.”
As an aside, Fairley pleaded guilty in May to federal fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges tied to the same indictment. He admitted agreeing to pay an NBA player to change how he played so gamblers could win money. Prosecutors say that player was Rozier.
The filing also states that Rozier allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills for his co-defendant, Deniro Laster, along with Laster’s brother and sister, who were also linked to the alleged scheme.
Prosecutors say Laster’s sister placed a hefty wager on Rozier’s poor performance in the March 2023 game at the direction of her brothers. They also claim Rozier lied to NBA investigators when he said he didn’t know her, despite the two having known each other since childhood.
The government goes on to allege that Rozier and Laster continued communicating after the indictment, violating their bond conditions. Prosecutors question how Rozier can maintain that his friend betrayed him and gambled behind his back while still communicating with him and paying his legal bills.
The two sides are also fighting over what the jury should hear about the NBA’s investigation. Rozier’s attorneys want access to the league’s full investigative report and interview notes, which they say have been withheld.
The government, interestingly, wants it both ways: to use statements Rozier made to NBA investigators but keep the league’s findings out of the trial. Prosecutors argue that whether Rozier violated NBA rules has nothing to do with whether he broke federal law.
Prosecutors also maintain that the NBA’s investigation did not clear Rozier, despite defense arguments suggesting otherwise.
In a statement to Los Angeles, an NBA spokesperson said the league is unaware of any other NBA player being implicated in the alleged gambling scheme involving Rozier and Laster.
“It is our understanding that no NBA player other than Terry Rozier is alleged to have engaged in any misconduct related to the gambling scheme claimed to have been perpetrated by Rozier and Deniro Laster. We continue to cooperate with the government’s investigation,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, another argument involves a text message that Rozier’s attorneys have repeatedly pointed to as evidence of his innocence.
In their latest filing, prosecutors asked a Brooklyn federal judge to keep that message out of Rozier’s upcoming February 2027 trial. The message, sent by Laster to a friend on March 29, 2023, read: “Dont tell chum bout the bet.” And “Chum” is Rozier’s nickname. Rozier’s defense has argued that the message proves Laster was secretly betting on Rozier without the basketball player knowing.
“One does not hide a bet from the person who supposedly sold it,” Rozier’s attorneys previously argued.
But the feds say the message may have referred to other gambling activity and that the friend has repeatedly denied under oath that it was about Rozier. “There is ample evidence suggesting that the text refers to something else entirely, including, for example, that Laster lost some of Rozier’s bribe proceeds the night before in the casino,” the government writes.
Prosecutors also flagged conversations between Rozier’s legal team and the person who received the text.
They say Rozier’s attorneys contacted the man several times, despite being told he already had a court-appointed lawyer. The witness later testified that he spoke privately with Rozier’s lead attorney two or three times and claimed he was asked to confirm that “Terry knew nothing” about the bets.
Rozier’s attorneys say they tried contacting the friend’s lawyer first but couldn’t reach him. They also said the man told them he didn’t have a lawyer at the time.
Federal prosecutors say those conversations could put Rozier’s lead attorney at risk of being removed from the case.
If the text message is allowed as evidence, the attorney could potentially be called to testify about what was discussed. The government wants the judge to examine the issue further and could seek to have Rozier’s attorney removed, although prosecutors haven’t formally requested that yet.
Rozier and Laster face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy.
Their trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 8, 2027, before Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall in Brooklyn’s Eastern District.
The post “Tryna Make 100K Gang”: New Texts Revealed in Terry Rozier Gambling Case appeared first on LAmag.
