Federal authorities revealed Thursday that 26 NCAA basketball players are facing charges in a major match-fixing scandal, including wire fraud, conspiracy, and bribery in sports. Prosecutors allege that more than 39 players across at least 17 Division I schools were involved, manipulating outcomes in over 29 games.
“We allege an extensive international criminal conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni, and professional bettors who fixed games across the country and poisoned the American spirit of competition for monetary gain,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf at a Philadelphia press conference.
Scheme Originated with Chinese Basketball
Investigators say the operation began in September 2022 with point-shaving in Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) games. Key fixers included Jalen Smith (Charlotte, NC), Marves Fairley (Carson, MS), Shane Hennen (Las Vegas/Philadelphia), Antonio Blakeney (Kissimmee, FL), Roderick Winkler (Little Rock, AR), and Alberto Laureano (Bronx, NY).
The fixers allegedly bribed players to underperform and ensure their teams did not cover the point spread, allowing large bets to be placed against those teams. By April 2023, Fairley reportedly left nearly $200,000 in cash for Blakeney in a storage unit, representing bribes and proceeds from the scheme.
Expansion into NCAA Basketball
Following the success of the CBA operation, the conspirators allegedly extended their scheme to NCAA basketball, targeting the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. Players were recruited to underperform in first halves or full games, with bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Prosecutors note the scheme focused on players whose payments could meaningfully supplement or exceed their Name-Image-Likeness (NIL) earnings.
Millions were allegedly wagered and won through the operation, with players reportedly earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.
“The stakes here are far higher than anything on a bet slip,” Metcalf said. “This criminal conspiracy threatens the integrity of collegiate athletics, and the Department of Justice will act to protect fairness, honesty, and respect for the rules of competition.”
Schools Involved
The FBI confirmed that players from the following schools were implicated:
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Abilene Christian
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Alabama State
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Buffalo
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Coppin State
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DePaul
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Eastern Michigan
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Fordham
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Kennesaw State
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La Salle
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New Orleans
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Nicholls
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North Carolina A&T
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Northwestern State
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Robert Morris
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Saint Louis
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Southern Miss
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Tulane
Notable players named in the indictment include Kennesaw State’s Simeon Cottle, Delaware State’s Camian Shell, Eastern Michigan’s Carlos Hart, and Texas Southern’s Oumar Koureissi.
The FBI began investigating the scheme in September, and the scope has reportedly grown to involve even more players and institutions.
This scandal follows a series of recent sports betting controversies, including arrests of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers in November for alleged pitch-rigging and Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier’s October indictment for allegedly fixing games and statistics.
The NCAA point-shaving investigation underscores ongoing concerns about the integrity of college athletics amid the rapid rise of sports betting and online wagering.
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