Federal prosecutors charged 26 people Thursday for allegedly bribing college and professional basketball players to fix games, stretching from the Chinese Basketball Association to NCAA courts across the United States.
At a Glance
- 29 NCAA games and 2 Chinese Basketball Association games were rigged starting in 2023
- Players received $10,000 to $30,000 per game to underperform
- Four currently active college players were charged, though the allegations involve the 2023-24 season
- Why it matters: The scheme defrauded sportsbooks and bettors out of millions, exposing vulnerabilities in the rapidly expanding legal sports betting market
The indictment, filed in Philadelphia federal court, outlines a two-year operation in which fixers recruited players with cash bribes and then bet against their teams. The conspiracy began with two successful fixes in China during 2023 before shifting to U.S. college games, prosecutors said.
How the scheme worked
Fixers targeted players through coaching and training connections, according to prosecutors. Six men allegedly led the operation:
- Three had direct ties to players through coaching or training roles
- Two worked as gamblers and sports handicappers
- One is former NBA player Antonio Blakeney
Once a player agreed to participate, the fixers would instruct them to underperform in specific ways during upcoming games. After the rigged contests, a fixer would fly to the player’s campus or travel destination to deliver cash payments, authorities said.
The operation spanned more than a dozen states, with prosecutors tracking flights and cash deliveries to college campuses and team travel stops.
Money trail reveals scale
While prosecutors didn’t specify the total amount wagered and won, they described the scheme as generating “substantial proceeds” for the fixers. Key financial details include:
- $10,000 to $30,000 paid to players per fixed game
- Nearly $200,000 in bribes and shared winnings from two Chinese games placed in one player’s Florida storage locker
- Millions of dollars wagered by the fixers on the rigged outcomes
The indictment indicates the group profited by betting against the teams whose players they controlled, taking advantage of sportsbooks that set lines based on normal performance expectations.
Current players caught in probe
Four active college players were among those charged, though their alleged involvement relates to last season rather than current games:
- Simeon Cottle
- Carlos Hart
- Oumar Koureissi
- Camian Shell
All four competed for their teams within days of the charges being announced, according to prosecutors.
The investigation remains active, with the indictment suggesting additional unnamed players participated but haven’t been charged. U.S. Attorney David Metcalf confirmed the probe is continuing.
Gambling scandal latest in sports
The case marks the latest in a series of betting-related scandals since the 2018 Supreme Court decision that legalized sports gambling nationwide. Recent incidents include:
- Federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional basketball
- NCAA lifetime bans on at least 10 basketball players for betting violations
- Federal bribery charges against MLB players Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for allegedly rigging pitches while with the Cleveland Guardians
The indictment highlights ongoing concerns about the integrity of sports as legal betting expands rapidly across the country. Prosecutors noted that the scheme successfully operated for nearly two years before being uncovered.
Key Takeaways
- 26 defendants face charges including bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy
- The operation fixed at least 31 total games since 2023
- Players received cash payments delivered in person after successful fixes
- Four current college players are among those charged
- The investigation is ongoing with more charges possible
