20 Charged in Major Basketball Game Fixing Scandal
Federal authorities have indicted 20 individuals for their involvement in a significant basketball game-fixing scandal. These charges involve rigging college basketball games in the United States and professional games in China.
Details of the Charges
The indictments were revealed in unsealed court documents from Philadelphia. The accused face multiple charges, including:
- Bribery in sports
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Wire fraud
- Aiding and abetting
Key Players Involved
The list of defendants includes notable former college basketball players such as:
- Alberto Laureano
- Arlando Arnold
- Simeon Cottle
- Kevin Cross
- Bradley Ezewiro
- Shawn Fulcher
- Carlos Hart
- Markeese Hastings
- Cedquavious Hunter
- Oumar Koureissi
- Da’Sean Nelson
- Demond Robinson
- Camian Shell
- Dyquavion Short
- Airion Simmons
- Jalen Terry
Additionally, trainers Jalen Smith and Roderick Winkler, along with high-stakes gamblers Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen, were also implicated.
Origin of the Scheme
The illegal operations are believed to have begun in September 2022. Initial efforts focused on the Chinese Basketball Association, where players were allegedly bribed to partake in “point shaving.” This practice involves manipulating a game’s final score without necessarily influencing the outcome.
Noteworthy Incidents
One significant case involved Antonio Blakeney, a player for the Jiangsu Dragons. Prosecutors allege that he initially engaged with Fairley and Hennen to recruit other players. In a March 2023 matchup against the Guangdong Southern Tigers, Blakeney’s performance was notably below his average. His team lost 127-96, covering the betting spread as agreed.
Following the season, Fairley allegedly delivered a package containing almost $200,000 in cash to Blakeney’s storage unit, further linking him to the scheme.
Expansion to College Basketball
As the operation progressed, plans were made to extend this point-shaving strategy to NCAA games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. The investigation uncovered that payments between $10,000 and $30,000 were made to various American college players.
Overall, the scheme reportedly involved more than 39 players across 17 NCAA Division I teams, fixing over 29 games, with bets totaling millions of dollars.
Impact on U.S. Sports
This extensive FBI investigation adds to the growing list of scandals related to gambling in high-profile U.S. sports. Recent cases include the arrest of NBA player Terry Rozier for alleged conspiracy with gamblers. In another incident, MLB pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz faced charges related to betting on their performance.
The implications of this scandal could further erode trust in college and professional basketball, raising urgent concerns regarding ethics in sports betting.
