Federal prosecutors unsealed sweeping indictments against 20 people accused of rigging college basketball games in the United States and professional contests in China, according to court papers filed in Philadelphia on Thursday.
At a Glance
- 20 defendants charged with bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy
- Scheme began in September 2022 with Chinese Basketball Association games
- Antonio Blakeney allegedly recruited teammates after agreeing to fix games
- $198,300 wagered on one fixed game via BetRivers Sportsbook
- Why it matters: The case signals an expanding federal crackdown on sports gambling corruption at both collegiate and international levels
The defendants include 16 former college basketball players and two trainers, alongside high-stakes gamblers who allegedly orchestrated the scheme. Charges span bribery in sports, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aiding and abetting.
The Players
Former collegiate standouts named in the indictment:
- 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
Trainers Jalen Smith and Roderick Winkler face charges alongside accused gamblers Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen.
How the Scheme Worked
Prosecutors say the operation began in September 2022 with bribes targeting players in the Chinese Basketball Association for “point shaving” – manipulating the final margin of victory rather than the win-loss outcome.
Fairley and Hennen initially approached Antonio Blakeney, then playing for the Jiangsu Dragons, according to the indictment. Blakeney, a former LSU guard, agreed to participate and began recruiting other Jiangsu players.
The scheme’s alleged payoff came during a March 6, 2023 contest between Jiangsu and the Guangdong Southern Tigers:
- Jiangsu entered as 11.5-point underdogs
- Fairley and Hennen placed $198,300 through BetRivers Sportsbook on Guangdong to cover
- Blakeney, averaging 32 points per game that season, scored only 11 points
- Guangdong won 127-96, covering the spread
“Blakeney underperformed in and influenced the game as he and the fixers had agreed,” the indictment states.
Expanding Federal Crackdown
The case arrives amid heightened federal scrutiny of gambling-related corruption across American sports:
- Oct. 23: NBA guard Terry Rozier arrested for allegedly sharing insider information with gamblers
- November: Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz arrested for betting on individual pitches they threw
Cameron R. Hayes reported that David K. Li and Isabel Yip contributed to the original story.
Key Takeaways
- The FBI investigation spans multiple countries and sports leagues
- Point shaving schemes target betting margins, not game outcomes
- Former college players allegedly carried corruption from U.S. courts to international professional leagues
- BetRivers Sportsbook handled the six-figure wager that triggered scrutiny
- Federal prosecutors are pursuing both the fixers and the fixed, signaling a broader enforcement strategy
