Federal prosecutors have alleged that a key defendant in the ongoing NBA gambling case has attempted to tamper with witnesses, including by posting a rat emoji on Instagram.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a court filing Tuesday that Deniro Laster, a childhood friend of Terry Rozier's and co-defendant in the NBA player's gambling case, has "repeatedly and flagrantly violated the conditions of his release."
Prosecutors asked a judge to revoke Laster's bond and hold him in custody until trial.
Prosecutors allege that Laster has attempted to contact co-defendants in the case both directly and through intermediaries, which would violate his bond. They also said that Instagram accounts associated with Laster posted rat emojis on at least two occasions, arguing that his use of the emoji -- and his reputation as "someone who had a gun collection and who typically carried a gun" -- suggested an intent to intimidate witnesses.
"Revocation of Deniro Laster's bail is the only means of ensuring that he will comply with the Court's orders, refrain from further criminal conduct, preserve the integrity of these proceedings, and protect witnesses or perceived witnesses," the U.S. Attorney's Office wrote in the filing, which is partially redacted.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined comment but noted that a status conference in the case for all defendants is scheduled for Tuesday.
Though Laster is not a well-known figure like Rozier, prosecutors have alleged he played a key role in the gambling case. When Rozier informed Laster that he planned to leave a March 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans early, prosecutors say Laster sold that information to fellow sports bettors so they could place fraudulent bets. Laster and Rozier allegedly agreed to a bribe of roughly $70,000 in exchange for the information.
Rozier's attorneys have attempted to use a text message exchange from Laster as evidence that Rozier was not aware of the alleged betting scheme.
In a court filing late last week, Rozier's attorney wrote that Laster texted, "Dont tell chum bout the bet" to an unidentified recipient, indicating that "Chum" is Rozier's nickname. Prosecutors said in a response that they have evidence suggesting that exchange "does not relate to sports gambling."
Rozier and Laster are each facing charges that include conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud, with a trial currently scheduled for Feb. 8, 2027. They have both pleaded not guilty. Rozier's attorneys have asked a judge to dismiss the charges against him.
An attorney for Laster did not immediately reply to messages from ESPN seeking comment.
ESPN's David Purdum contributed to this report.