Accused NBA Match Fixer Faces Allegations of Witness Tampering
Mike Goodpaster Published 12/08/2026
Federal prosecutors are alleging that a key figure in an ongoing NBA gambling scandal case has been tampering with witnesses. De'Niro Laster is a childhood friend of former NBA player Terry Rozier. They are co-defendants in a gambling case involving Rozier fixing player props on his performance in NBA games.
In a court filing, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York alleges that Laster has attempted to speak with co-defendants and has sought to intimidate witnesses. Both actions would violate the conditions of Laster's bond. Laster's bond was revoked, and he is being held in custody until trial.
Laster's bail was revoked on Tuesday
On Tuesday, reporting from NBA reporter Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic revealed that a judge has indeed issued an order revoking Laster's bond.
"A defendant in the NBA insider gambling case had his bond revoked and was put into federal custody today after a federal judge determined that De'Niro Laster tried to intimidate witnesses and broke the conditions of his bond," Vorkunov posted on the social media site X. "Laster is alleged to have collaborated with (former NBA player) Terry Rozier and sports gamblers to bet on Rozier's unders for a March 2023 (Charlotte) Hornets game."
Prosecutors allege that Laster has sought to make contact with co-defendants in the case both directly and through intermediaries. Laster is also accused of posting rat emojis on Instagram accounts of potential witnesses in the trial, and people he believed were cooperating with the FBI investigation on at least two occasions. Along with posting the emoji, Laster pointed out his reputation as "someone who had a gun collection and who typically carried a gun"
Prosecutors suggest that this was an intent to intimidate witnesses. Both allegations against Laster were violations of his bond.
"Revocation of De'Niro 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 a filing, according to reporting by ESPN.
Former NBA player is facing multiple allegations of match-fixing
Rozier is definitely the face of this case. However, prosecutors allege that Laster is one of the key figures in the organization of the gambling scandal. Rozier is said to have passed on information to Laster. Rozier told his friend that he would be leaving early from a March 2023 NBA game between the Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans. Laster then sold that information to bettors, who wagered on the under on Rozier's player props for the game. The two men were paid $70,000 for the insider information.
Both Rozier and Laster are facing multiple charges. They include conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. Each man has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The trial is scheduled to begin on February 8, 2027.
Rozier continues to plead his innocence
Attorneys representing Rozier have unsuccessfully sought to get the judge to dismiss the charges against their client. Their latest attempt to prove his innocence was the submission of a text that Laster sent.
"Don't tell chum bout the bet," the text read. No recipient was specified. However, his lawyers argued that Chum is Rozier's nickname.
In response, prosecutors said that they have evidence suggesting that this exchange "does not relate to sports gambling."