Terry Rozier’s legal team is gearing up to argue that his co-defendant, Deniro Laster, bears responsibility in the federal NBA gambling case. This strategy has led both defendants to request a judge to separate their trials.

In a motion filed on Wednesday, October 21, in federal court in Brooklyn, Rozier’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, and Laster’s attorney, M. Evan Corcoran, cautioned that a joint trial would place Laster in a precarious position, facing prosecution from both the federal government and the defense representing Rozier.

This situation could escalate into a complicated legal battle between the two long-time friends. The federal government firmly opposes this request. The case revolves around a game on March 23, 2023, between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans. Prosecutors allege that Rozier agreed to leave the game early to enable associates to profit from bets predicting that he would not meet certain statistical benchmarks.

The indictment claims Rozier alerted Laster to this plan just prior to the game, prompting Laster to inform others who subsequently placed bets. Further allegations indicate that Laster traveled to Philadelphia shortly thereafter, gathered significant gambling proceeds, and delivered the cash to Rozier’s home in Charlotte, where they reportedly counted it together.

However, Rozier’s attorney, David Markus, asserts that Rozier was unaware of the betting and exited the game due to a legitimate injury. Markus, a well-known criminal defense attorney with a roster of high-profile clients, including Ghislaine Maxwell and former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, is preparing to argue that Laster acted independently of Rozier’s knowledge.