Federal authorities have disclosed a comprehensive indictment that reveals an extensive point-shaving conspiracy implicating 39 college basketball players from 17 NCAA Division I schools over the last two seasons. The indictment, which spans 70 pages, was unsealed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Thursday and delineates a plot that accrued millions of dollars from illegal gambling profits through deliberately manipulated games.
Antonio Blakeney, a former NBA player and LSU standout, was identified as a pivotal figure in the scheme, facing separate charges. Blakeney, who played two seasons with the Chicago Bulls from 2017 to 2019, is accused of recruiting players and offering bribes to influence game outcomes. The indictment names 26 defendants on charges including bribery in sporting contests and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The conspiracy, which began around September 2022, initially focused on games in the Chinese Basketball Association, where Blakeney was a leading scorer. Prosecutors allege that Blakeney not only rigged his own performance but also enlisted teammates to join the deceitful activities. The operation subsequently expanded to college basketball prior to the 2023-24 season, with fixers targeting players particularly vulnerable to the allure of bribery.
The indictment details the roles of five "fixers," Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley among them, who recruited players and offered bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 to ensure their subpar performance in games. These fixers then collaborated with betting associates to place and secure substantial winnings from the rigged matches. Hennen and Fairley also face charges in a separate federal indictment in the Eastern District of New York related to NBA gambling schemes.
The ramifications of the indictment have already begun to ripple through the college basketball community. Eastern Michigan University has suspended Carlos Hart, and Kennesaw State University has indefinitely suspended Simeon Cottle from team activities pending the resolution of the case. The NCAA has launched betting integrity investigations into nearly 40 players from 20 schools, with NCAA president Charlie Baker confirming that the investigations encompass "almost all of the teams in today's indictment."
At a press conference, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf emphasized the strategic recruitment of fixers with established connections in college basketball, noting their influence added "gravitas and legitimacy to the scheme." The charges in the indictment carry severe penalties, with bribery charges leading to a maximum of five years in prison and fraud charges carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years.
The case has also prompted a response from the NCAA and gambling regulators. Baker has called for legislative adjustments to better safeguard players and the integrity of the game, advocating for the prohibition of proposition betting, which allows wagers on individual player performances.
This indictment serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in collegiate sports, where the temptation of financial gain can corrupt the competitive spirit and integrity that underpin the essence of the game.
