Executive Summary
- Federal prosecutors charged 26 people in a point-shaving scheme involving over 17 NCAA Division I teams.
- The alleged conspiracy spanned from September 2022 to February 2025 and impacted at least 29 games.
- Former college players are accused of bribing current athletes to fix game outcomes for gamblers.
- The indictment also includes allegations regarding fixed games in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia have charged 26 individuals in connection with a widespread point-shaving scheme involving dozens of college basketball players, authorities announced on Thursday. The charges stem from an extensive FBI investigation into corruption within collegiate sports betting.
According to the unsealed indictment, players on more than 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams allegedly “fixed and attempted to fix” over 29 games between September 2022 and February 2025. Prosecutors state that the scheme involved bribing players to intentionally underperform, or “tank,” to ensure games ended with point differentials favorable to sports gamblers. The indictment further alleges that former college players were utilized to bribe current athletes to participate in the conspiracy.
Investigators identified a specific roster of institutions where games were allegedly rigged or impacted by the operation. These teams include Alabama State, Western Michigan University, Butler, St. John’s, Tulane, East Carolina, McNeese State, Nicholls State, St. Louis University, Duquesne, La Salle, Fordham, SUNY Buffalo, Kent State, Ohio University, Georgetown, and DePaul. Additionally, the indictment includes allegations of influencing or fixing games within the Chinese Basketball Association.
NCAA President Charlie Baker addressed the findings, acknowledging the organization’s awareness of the issue. “The pattern of college basketball game integrity conduct revealed by law enforcement today is not entirely new information to the NCAA,” Baker said in a released statement, noting that internal investigations have been opened or concluded regarding nearly all the named teams.
Investigative Scope and Legal Implications
The unsealing of these indictments marks a significant escalation in federal efforts to police the integrity of collegiate sports amidst the widespread legalization of sports betting. The inclusion of such a diverse array of university programs suggests a systemic vulnerability that federal authorities are now aggressively targeting through racketeering and fraud statutes. As the case proceeds through the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, the focus will likely shift to the evidentiary threshold required to prove the coordination between gamblers and student-athletes. It is important to note that all individuals named in the indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
