Federal Prosecutors Warn Of Possible Conflict As Rozier Pays Friend’s Lawyer

Federal prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. District Court Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall saying they have concerns about indicted Miami Heat star Terry Rozier paying the lawyer of another defendant in a wide-reaching sports betting scandal.

Rozier, according to the letter, is paying attorney Evan Corcoran, who is representing Deniro Laster, Rozier’s childhood friend. The key issue, write federal prosecutors, is not who is paying the bills, but that Rozier’s lawyers have publicly indicated that “Rozier’s defense strategy at trial will be to inculpate Laster,” which in layman’s terms could mean that prosecutors believe Rozier’s lawyers may attempt to use Laster as a scapegoat.

In the letter, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella requests an inquiry to determine if there is a conflict and ensure that Laster understands the situation should he be asked to waive his rights and allow Rozier to continue to pay. Nocella also suggests Laster be appointed an attorney to help him negotiate the issue.

Federal prosecutors outline ways in which Rozier and his lawyers already appear to be laying the groundwork to argue that Rozier was used and did not intentionally share insider information for bettors’ use. Rozier is accused of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy after leaving a March 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans early. Rozier was playing for the Hornets at that time, and his actions allowed bettors to make and cash on “under” bets. Rozier played 9 minutes, 36 seconds in the game. He averaged 35.3 minutes per game that season.

‘Whatever that friend did is not on Terry’

In his letter, Nocella wrote that since Rozier’s indictment was unsealed on Oct. 23, his lawyers have said Rozier was not involved with a “conspiracy” and instead pointed to a “friend,” who may be Laster.

“For example, on October 29, 2025, Rozier’s counsel stated during an interview with Fox News, ‘Confiding in a friend, a childhood friend and saying man it’s the end of the season, we are out of the playoffs, I’ll sit early in this game, that’s not a crime … that is confiding in a friend. … But he told a friend, and whatever that friend did is not on Terry. … This is a situation where a friend took information, ran with it, Terry didn’t do anything.’ On October 30, 2025, Rozier’s counsel stated during an interview with CNN, ‘At best, [Rozier] relied on a bad friend and made a comment about being banged up at the end of an 82-game season.’ The ‘friend’ referenced in all of these comments appears to be Laster.”

Per court documents, Rozier and Laster have been friends since childhood, and Rozier’s company, GMB Chronicles LLC, paid Laster $165,000 over 2½ years between December 2022 and May 2025. Like Rozier, Laster is charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. In the indictment, Laster and Rozier and four others are accused of selling insider information to co-conspirators “to place fraudulent sports wagers for profit and to launder the proceeds thereof.”

Conflict could affect how Laster pleads

With regard to the Hornets-Pelicans game, federal prosecutors wrote in the indictment that “ROZIER informed the defendant DENIRO LASTER that ROZIER was going to prematurely remove himself from the game in the first quarter due to a supposed injury and not return to play further. ROZIER provided this information to LASTER for the purpose of enabling LASTER to place wagers based on this information. ROZIER was not on the Hornets’ injury report prior to the March 23 Game and Hornets officials were not aware of ROZIER’s plan to exit the game prematurely.”

While the allegations must still be proven, Nocella is raising concerns that Rozier’s lawyers may be walking back this scenario, and planning to lay blame on Laster. Nocella cites case law, describes when or if a conflict exists, and points out that payment of legal fees by a third party can potentially lead to a conflict of interest.

Federal prosecutors aren’t currently asking DeArcy Hall to declare that there is a conflict. Rather, they are pointing to the possibility. Nocella notes that a conflict could affect how Laster pleads, if he is aware that he could seek leniency for cooperating with authorities, and whether or not he ultimately testifies. Nocella also writes that it is unclear how Laster would pay for counsel if Rozier wasn’t paying.