Federal Prosecutors Charge 20 in Massive College Basketball Point-Shaving Scheme

2026-01-15 general

Washington D.C., Thursday, 15 January 2026.
An FBI investigation reveals a massive scheme where players allegedly accepted $10,000 to $30,000 per game to fix results across 17 NCAA Division I teams.

Unsealing the Indictment

On Thursday, federal prosecutors in Philadelphia unsealed an indictment charging 20 individuals in a conspiracy that spanned from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) to courts across the United States [1][2]. The operation, which ran from September 2022 through February 2025, allegedly involved bribing players to “tank” games or shave points, allowing co-conspirators to place winning bets against the compromised teams [2][8]. The indictment identifies 15 of the defendants as former college basketball players, many of whom competed in NCAA Division I games as recently as the 2024-25 season [5].

Mechanics of the Scheme

The scale of the alleged corruption is extensive, implicating more than 39 players across at least 17 NCAA Division I programs and resulting in the manipulation of over 29 specific games [1][3]. To ensure these outcomes, “fixers”—a group described by authorities as including trainers, influencers, and sports handicappers—allegedly paid collegiate athletes between $10,000 and $30,000 per game to intentionally underperform [5][8]. By recruiting players to compromise their own performances, the conspirators reportedly defrauded sportsbooks and individual bettors who were unaware the game outcomes had been predetermined [3].

From International Leagues to the NCAA

Investigators trace the scheme’s origins to the CBA in late 2022, implicating former NBA guard Antonio Blakeney [1][7]. In one specific instance cited from March 6, 2023, Blakeney’s team, the Jiangsu Dragons, lost a match 127-96; despite being 11.5-point underdogs, Blakeney scored only 11 points [1]. Prosecutors allege that in April 2023, a co-conspirator delivered nearly $200,000 in cash to Blakeney as payment for his participation [1]. Following this period, the operation reportedly pivoted to the U.S. collegiate system for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons [1][7].

A Widening Net of Corruption

This indictment represents the latest shockwave in a series of gambling-related scandals plaguing professional and amateur sports. It follows the October 23, 2025, arrest of NBA veteran Terry Rozier, who was taken into custody for allegedly conspiring with gamblers [1][4]. The broader investigation had previously led to the arrests of 34 individuals in October 2025, including prominent figures like Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former player Damon Jones, linking them to illegal gambling rings and organized crime [2][4]. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were also arrested in connection with gambling probes in November 2025 [1].

Sources

Sports Betting Fraud Investigation