A federal judge revoked the bond of Deniro Laster, co‑defendant in the NBA gambling case, for violating bond conditions that included attempted witness intimidation by posting rat emojis on Instagram and contacting co‑defendants and potential witnesses during a no‑contact order.

Eastern District of New York judge La Shann De Arcy Hall said Laster was unlikely to abide by the conditions. In his argument, U.S. attorney David Berman described Laster's conduct as "utterly egregious." Defense attorney Matthew Evan Corcoran called the rat emoji a "rat cartoon," prompting Hall to admonish his use of the word cartoon.

Hall questioned whether Corcoran "effectively conceded" Laster posted the emoji during his argument. Corcoran later said "sometimes a rat emoji is just a rat emoji." Hall asked if that was his argument, calling it a bad one. Corcoran argued bond revocation often happens after a rearrest; Laster had not been rearrested. He also claimed the person Laster contacted was not on a no‑contact list.

After Laster was remanded, he removed his tie before being escorted out by U.S. marshals. Prosecutors alleged former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier told Laster he would leave a March 23, 2023 game early due to injury, allowing bettors to bet on Rozier’s statistics. Rozier and Laster allegedly agreed to a roughly $70,000 bribe. Rozier sat at the defendant’s table during the hearing. Hall denied Rozier’s frame change request and heard arguments about potential violations of public‑statement rules that could impact a fair trial. Rozier’s attorney filed that prosecutors’ statements in the motion to revoke Laster’s bond falsely implied Rozier was a gang member. Berman and Hall said no belief Rozier is a gang member. If confusion, Hall said there are no allegations that Rozier is a gang member.