Rozier lawyer: Text proves NBA star didn't know about bets
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- David Markus, Rozier's attorney, filed a motion to dismiss two charges, citing a text from co-defendant Deniro Laster reading "Dont tell chum bout the bet" as proof Rozier was unaware of the scheme, writing: "One does not hide a bet from the person who supposedly sold it."
- Federal prosecutors fired back in a response filing that they have "developed evidence from multiple sources that this text chain does not relate to sports gambling."
- Markus replied in a third filing that the government itself has produced "co-conspirator statements confirming that Mr. Rozier did not know about the bets before the game."
- The Friday motion also sought dismissal of two additional charges added in May — bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy — tied to an alleged $100,000 bribe.
- Markus filed a separate motion to transfer the case from the Eastern District of New York to the Southern District of Florida, arguing none of Rozier's alleged actions took place in New York and a Brooklyn trial would cause "unfairness and hardship"; the government opposed the move.
- Rozier's trial is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2027; co-defendants Marves Fairley and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones have pleaded guilty.
Why it matters: If the dismissal motion gains traction, Rozier could shed bribery counts tied to an alleged $100,000 payment and potentially shift venue to his home district in Florida. The fight over a single text message signals both sides are jockeying for leverage ahead of the Feb. 8, 2027 trial, with prosecutors apparently holding back evidence they claim reframes the defense's smoking gun.
