Federal prosecutors unsealed a 70-page indictment this morning charging 20 individuals in a three-year scheme to manipulate college and international basketball games for millions of dollars in illicit betting profits. Reports indicate that a total of 26 people are facing charges, according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“This is pervasive corruption,” Metcalf said during a press conference, calling the operation “very successful” and highlighting the damage to the integrity of sports. The case reportedly involves at least 39 college players, 15 of whom played in the last two seasons, with four participating in games just last week.
High-Profile Names Return
Among those charged are Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen, both previously implicated in October’s NBA prop betting and poker cheating scandals. Hennen, who has a history of alleged poker cheating, reportedly helped secure cheating technology and coordinate illegal betting activity in both previous cases.
Professional player Antonio Blakeney, formerly of the Chicago Bulls and currently playing overseas in Israel, is named as a co-conspirator. According to prosecutors, the scheme originated in China during the 2022-23 season, where Blakeney underperformed for the Jiangsu Dragons to manipulate point spreads. He was allegedly paid $200,000 for his participation.
How the Scheme Worked
-
Games targeted included college and international basketball.
-
Players were recruited to underperform, ensuring spreads favored certain bets.
-
Payouts ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per player.
-
Large-scale wagers totaling six figures raised suspicion and triggered FBI scrutiny.
The operation reportedly moved from China to the U.S., expanding into NCAA games for the 2023-24 season, again focusing on first-half and full-game spreads, often targeting underdogs. Not every fix succeeded—for example, a Tulane vs. Florida Atlantic game did not go as planned, with the co-conspirators expressing disbelief after the failed attempt.
Schools and Players Implicated
The indictment names 17 schools, primarily smaller programs, and links to earlier NCAA investigations:
-
Eastern Michigan – Jalin Billingsley, Da’Sean Nelson, Jalen Terry (non-cooperative with prior inquiries)
-
New Orleans – Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short (previously cited for betting infractions)
-
Temple University – Games in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania reportedly fixed
NCAA President Charlie Baker responded to the indictment, calling for regulators to consider banning or limiting college prop bets to prevent similar schemes in the future.
This indictment highlights the growing intersection of sports betting, college athletics, and organized fraud, and marks a significant expansion of last year’s NBA-linked scandal.
