Terry Rozier's attorney and federal prosecutors sparred in dueling court filings Friday over the significance of a text message sent by a co-defendant in the NBA veteran's gambling case.
In a motion to dismiss two charges against Rozier, attorney David Markus wrote that a text sent by co-conspirator Deniro Laster shows that Rozier did not know about the alleged bets. Laster, a childhood friend of Rozier, is accused of selling inside information about Rozier's plan to leave a March 2023 game early as part of the alleged betting scheme.
"Dont tell chum bout the bet," Laster wrote, according to the filing. "Chum" is Rozier's nickname, the filing noted.
The recipient answered, "Hell no," according to the filing.
Markus argued that these texts, which he said were included in the government's discovery, "should end the case."
"One does not hide a bet from the person who supposedly sold it," he wrote.
In a response filed shortly after, federal prosecutors said they have "developed evidence from multiple sources that this text chain does not relate to sports gambling."
Markus then responded in another filing that the government "has produced co-conspirator statements confirming that Mr. Rozier did not know about the bets before the game." It is not immediately clear what those statements are.
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Markus declined comment, as did a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Rozier was arrested in October 2025 in a sweeping indictment accusing him of manipulating his performance in a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans for the benefit of gamblers. Prosecutors added two additional counts in May, accusing Rozier of agreeing to a $100,000 bribe.
Rozier has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys asked a judge in December to dismiss the initial charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, arguing government overreach.
The new filing Friday asked a judge to also dismiss the two additional charges of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy.