Gambling: 26 People Charged in FBI Probe

In the continuing FBI probe into sports gambling, 26 other people have been charged in the wide ranging investigation.

In court documents filed in Philadelphia federal prosecutors have added game fixing against individuals in college basketball. Plus, it also charged people involved in pro basketball in China.

The suspects face a slew of charges that include alleged bribery in sports, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aiding and abetting. Indictments unsealed in Philadelphia named 26 defendants, who US Attorney David Metcalf said “perpetrated a transnational criminal scheme to fix NCAA Division I men’s basketball games as well as professional Chinese Basketball Association games.”

Metcalf also stated, “the integrity of sport itself and everything that sports represent to us, hard work, determination and fairness” was threatened by these defendants.

“We allege an extensive international criminal conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni and professional bettors who fixed gains across the country and poisoned the American spirit of competition for monetary gain,” Metcalf stated to reporters Thursday.

Alleged players

The defendants charged in this indictment include: 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, Corey Hines, Diante Smith, Antonio Blakeney, Isaiah Adams, Micawber Etienne and Elijah Gray. All of these players are former college basketball players.

Trainers Jalen Smith and Roderick Winkler are also charged in the indictment. Big time sports gamblers Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen were also charged in these new indictments.

Game fixers “engaged in a point-shaving scheme involving more than 39 players on more than 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams who then fixed and attempted to fix more than 29” games for millions of dollars in bets, the indictment said.

Schools affected

The alleged fixed games occurred in China and with players in the United States. Prosecutors are saying manipulated contests took place at Nicholls State, Tulane, Northwestern State, Saint Louis, LaSalle, Fordham, Buffalo, DePaul, Robert Morris, Southern Miss, North Carolina A&T, Kennesaw State, Coppin State, New Orleans, Abilene Christian, Eastern Michigan and Alabama State.

The accused defendants could be part of the biggest point shaving scandal since 1951. That point shaving scandal included several New York City schools.

The scheme moved to college basketball games in the United States during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, prosecutors said, as Blakeney allegedly “agreed to recruit NCAA players who would accept bribe payments,” court papers said.

According to court documents the American basketball players were paid between $10,000-$30,000 per game.

This sweeping FBI investigation marks the latest gambling scandal to rock high-level U.S. sports.

The proliferation of sports betting and payments to college athletes — for their name, image and likeness (NIL) — has made for an environment that makes match fixing possible, according to Metcalf.

“I will say that the evidence in this case shows that the monetization of college athletics and athletics generally … furthered the enterprise in this case,” said Metcalf, a former Princeton soccer player.

“But it’s complicated, right? I mean, as we allege in the indictment, certain players were targeted because they were somewhat missing out on NIL money.” 

Michael J. Wilson-The Daily Waiver

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