Overview
- In a Tuesday filing, prosecutors asked a Brooklyn federal judge to hold a hearing on whether De’Niro Laster’s attorney, M. Evan Corcoran, should be removed because Rozier is paying his fees.
- The government cited TV interviews by Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, as signaling a defense that shifts blame to a “friend,” which prosecutors say likely refers to Laster.
- Prosecutors said Laster reported about $200 in monthly cash flow and received roughly $165,000 from Rozier’s company, GMB Chronicles LLC, underscoring concerns about his ability to fund independent counsel.
- Trusty said the arrangement presents no ethical issue and that a formal response is forthcoming, as Rozier and Laster remain free on bond after pleading not guilty.
- The indictment alleges Rozier tipped Laster about a planned early exit from a March 2023 game, Laster sold the information for $100,000, bettors used proxies to place more than $259,000 in wagers, and both defendants face wire-fraud and money-laundering conspiracy counts carrying up to 20 years per charge.