At a Glance
- 20 indicted for rigging U.S. college and Chinese pro basketball games
- Scheme began September 2022 with CBA point-shaving
- Former LSU guard Antonio Blakeney recruited teammates for fix
- Why it matters: Sports gambling scandals now span continents, threatening game integrity
Federal prosecutors unsealed sweeping indictments Thursday in Philadelphia, charging 20 people-including 16 ex-college players-with conspiring to fix basketball games in America and China through bribes and point-shaving.
The Accused
Court papers name the following former NCAA players:
- 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
Also charged:
- Trainers Jalen Smith and Roderick Winkler
- High-stakes gamblers Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen
How the Fix Worked
Authorities say the plot launched in September 2022 when defendants began bribing Chinese Basketball Association players to manipulate final margins-a tactic known as point-shaving.
Fairley and Hennen first targeted Antonio Blakeney, then with the Jiangsu Dragons. Blakeney, a former LSU guard, “agreed to participate…and then recruited other players,” according to the indictment.
The March 6, 2023 Bet
- Jiangsu entered as 11.5-point underdogs vs Guangdong
- Fairley and Hennen wagered $198,300 on BetRivers Sportsbook for Guangdong to cover
- Blakeney, averaging 32 points that season, scored only 11
- Guangdong won 127-96, covering the spread
“Blakeney underperformed in and influenced the game as he and the fixers had agreed,” the indictment states.
Charges Filed
Defendants face multiple counts:
- Bribery in sports
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Wire fraud
- Aiding and abetting
Growing Gambling Scandals
The FBI probe arrives amid a wave of betting controversies:
- Oct. 23: NBA guard Terry Rozier arrested for allegedly sharing insider info
- November: Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz accused of betting on their own pitches
Jordan M. Lewis reported these developments for News Of Philadelphia. David K. Li and Isabel Yip contributed.
