TLDR Federal prosecutors want Deniro Laster’s bond revoked and want him held until trial. Laster is accused of contacting a co-defendant and posting rat emojis to intimidate witnesses. The filing does not accuse Terry Rozier of any tampering. Rozier’s attorney calls the government’s reference to “GMB” a dog whistle. The case centers on a 2023 Hornets-Pelicans game tied to more than $258,700 in bets.
Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to revoke Deniro Laster’s bond. They want him held in custody until his trial begins.
Laster is Terry Rozier’s childhood friend and co-defendant in the NBA betting case. Prosecutors say he broke his release conditions more than once.
They allege he tried to interfere with the case by contacting a witness. The filing does not accuse Rozier of taking part in any tampering.
According to the filing, Laster called another defendant in December 2025. He allegedly said the group would be fine if they avoided cooperating with law enforcement.
That call may have broken a bond condition. The condition bars Laster from contacting co-defendants without a lawyer present.
Instagram Posts Raise Concerns
Prosecutors point to two Instagram posts linked to accounts tied to Laster. Both posts included rat emojis.
The filing says the emojis were meant to insult and intimidate a potential witness. It defines a rat as someone seen as a snitch or informant.
Prosecutors also raised Laster’s reputation. They say he is known for owning guns and often carrying one.
They argue this reputation shaped how witnesses understood the alleged threats. Witnesses reportedly knew about his access to firearms.
Prosecutors wrote that revoking Laster’s bail is the only way to protect the case. They said it would help protect witnesses going forward.
Laster’s attorney had not made a public statement about the claims as of