Federal prosecutors unveiled a sweeping indictment Thursday that exposed a far-reaching point-shaving conspiracy involving more than 39 college basketball players across 17 NCAA Division I programs over the past two seasons.
The scheme, detailed in a 70-page federal indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, allegedly generated millions of dollars in illegal gambling profits through fixed games.
Twenty-six defendants face charges including bribery in sporting contests and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney was identified as a central figure in the operation, though he faces separate charges.
Blakeney, who starred at LSU before playing two seasons with the Chicago Bulls from 2017 to 2019, allegedly helped recruit players and offered bribes to participants.
Twenty of the defendants played college basketball during the 2023-24 or 2024-25 seasons.
Four players charged in the indictment competed for their current teams within the past week, though allegations against three of them stem from previous schools.
Authorities identified five defendants as “fixers” who recruited players and offered bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 in exchange for intentionally underperforming.
These fixers then enabled betting associates to place and win millions in wagers on the manipulated games.
Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley, two alleged fixers, also face charges in a separate federal indictment in the Eastern District of New York related to NBA gambling schemes.
Three other accused fixers maintained connections within college basketball circles.
The bribery charges carry maximum sentences of five years in prison, while fraud charges carry potential sentences up to 20 years.
ESPN reported that Eric Siegle, Fairley’s attorney, stated he was reviewing the indictment and declined further comment Thursday.
The conspiracy began around September 2022, initially targeting Chinese Basketball Association games where Blakeney played as a leading scorer.
According to prosecutors, Blakeney allegedly manipulated his own performance and recruited teammates to participate.
One text message cited in the indictment showed Hennen writing to a co-conspirator weeks after a fixed CBA game: “Nothing guaranteed in this world but death, taxes and Chinese basketball.”
The operation expanded to college basketball before the 2023-24 season.
Prosecutors say fixers deliberately targeted players “for whom the bribe payments would meaningfully supplement or exceed legitimate NIL opportunities.”
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf explained at Thursday’s news conference that the group strategically recruited fixers with college basketball connections.
“They picked these men because they were well connected in the world of college basketball,” Metcalf said.
“Trainers, recruiters, networkers, people of influence, and because of that influence, they added gravitas and legitimacy to the scheme.”
Eastern Michigan suspended Carlos Hart from all team activities pending the case’s outcome.
Kennesaw State suspended Simeon Cottle indefinitely from team activities.
NCAA president Charlie Baker confirmed the NCAA enforcement staff opened betting integrity investigations into approximately 40 players from 20 schools over the past year, including “almost all of the teams in today’s indictment.”
ESPN said Baker sent a letter Thursday to state gambling regulators requesting laws be adjusted to better protect players and game integrity, specifically calling for eliminating prop betting.
