Federal prosecutors have charged 20 men in what authorities describe as a sweeping point-shaving conspiracy that allegedly compromised college basketball betting on dozens of Division I men’s games across multiple seasons.
A 70-page indictment unsealed Thursday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleges the college basketball betting scheme involved 39 players across at least 17 NCAA Division I programs, with bettors manipulating outcomes in 29 games between September 2022 and February 2025.
According to prosecutors, the defendants worked to influence game results for wagering purposes, primarily by ensuring teams failed to cover point spreads, often targeting first-half or full-game lines.
Alleged bribes exceeded NIL money
The indictment alleges that players were bribed to underperform in specific game situations rather than lose outright, a tactic prosecutors say allowed the activity to blend easier into normal game variance while still creating betting edges.
Bribe payments allegedly ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game, sums prosecutors noted exceeded most players’ legitimate name, image and likeness earning opportunities. The indictment says fixers then placed wagers against the compromised teams through regulated sportsbooks. Those sportsbooks have not been named.
Federal authorities allege sportsbooks and individual bettors were defrauded because wagers were placed on games that had been manipulated without their knowledge.
College basketball betting linked to overseas scheme
According to the indictment, the bet-fixing group initially focused on games in the Chinese Basketball Association before wading into U.S. college basketball. Prosecutors allege that profits from overseas betting helped fund the recruitment of NCAA players.
Fifteen of the defendants played college basketball during the 2023-24 and/or 2024-25 seasons. Two players, Cedquavious Hunter and Dyquavian Short of New Orleans, were sanctioned by the NCAA in November in connection with game manipulation allegations.
Five additional defendants are described as fixers who coordinated payments and betting activity. Two of those men — Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley — were charged in October in a separate federal case tied to illegal gambling in the NBA and Pistons guard Malik Beasley. Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney was named but not charged in Thursday’s indictment, with prosecutors noting he is “charged elsewhere.”
Some specific basketball games cited
While prosecutors did not release a comprehensive list of the 29 games allegedly fixed, the indictment cites several examples:
- DePaul Blue Demons vs. Georgetown Hoyas (Feb. 24, 2024)
Multiple DePaul players were allegedly paid in cash to influence the first-half spread. Georgetown led 41–28 at halftime, covering a 2.5-point first-half line. Text messages cited in the indictment described the outcome as “perfected.” - Kennesaw State Owls vs. Queens Royals (March 1, 2024)
Kennesaw State trailed 52–39 at halftime after key players allegedly went scoreless in the first half. Prosecutors say players received $40,000 tied to first-half betting outcomes. - Guangdong Southern Tigers vs. Jiangsu Dragons (2022–23 season)
Blakeney scored 11 points despite averaging more than 30 points per game that season. Prosecutors allege nearly $200,000 was wagered on Guangdong covering an 11.5-point spread. - Prosecutors also cited games involving Buffalo, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Saint Louis, and Tulane where players were allegedly recruited to affect first-half or full-game spreads, though specific dates and opponents were not disclosed.
The case follows NCAA enforcement actions last November, when the association permanently banned six former Division I players from New Orleans, Arizona State and Mississippi Valley State for betting-related game manipulation uncovered in separate investigations.
NCAA: investigations underway
In a statement Thursday, NCAA President Charlie Baker said the association has opened or completed betting-integrity investigations involving roughly 40 players from 20 schools over the past year, including cases tied to several of the teams named in the indictment. He urged regulators and gaming operators to eliminate integrity risks in college sports, specifically pointing to college prop betting as a structural vulnerability.
The case adds to a growing list of federal betting probes over the past six months have exposed integrity vulnerabilities in basketball, particularly around spread and prop wagering. That includes ongoing NBA betting investigations linked to Rozier, Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and ex-Cavaliers assistant Damon Jones, which court filings suggest extended beyond illegal poker rings to the misuse of nonpublic injury information.
The timing of those cases led to NCAA officials reversing a decision that would have allowed college athletes and sports staff to bet on pro sports.
Federal prosecutors are expected to provide additional details at a news conference scheduled for Thursday morning.
