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U.S. prosecutors in Philadelphia say they have uncovered a betting ring that paid players to quietly tilt basketball games by shaving points against the spread and cashing in through regulated sportsbooks.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced charges against 26 people on Jan. 15, describing what it says was a multi-year operation that moved from China’s pro league into Division I men’s college basketball.
At a news conference, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf framed the case as an integrity issue, not just a betting one, saying:
“The stakes here are far higher than anything on a bet slip.”
The alleged play: target the spread, not the scoreboard
According to prosecutors, the core tactic was point shaving: recruiting players to underperform so their team failed to cover the spread, even if the team still won the game.
Authorities allege the group used in-person meetings and constant messaging to line up players willing to cooperate, then placed wagers “totaling millions of dollars.”
Prosecutors say the scheme ultimately involved more than 39 players across more than 17 Division I teams, with more than 29 games allegedly fixed or targeted.
The case traces back to China’s pro league
Federal prosecutors say the operation first took shape around September 2022, when “fixers” allegedly began recruiting and bribing players in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) to influence results against the spread.
The government’s filings also describe a link to former NBA player Antonio Blakeney, who was playing in China at the time. Prosecutors allege that, after the CBA season ended, nearly $200,000 in cash connected to bribe payments and scheme proceeds was left in a Florida storage unit tied to Blakeney.
From there, prosecutors say, the group shifted its attention “Stateside,” expanding into NCAA games during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons.
This hits the iGaming-regulated market directly
This is the kind of case that lands squarely in the iGaming lane because prosecutors say the alleged plan was to profit through widely available, legal sports wagering products, spreads on full games and first halves, while defrauding books and other bettors who were wagering in good faith.
Reports also noted prosecutors’ view that the growth of legalized sports betting made it easier to spread wagering activity out across platforms, a classic way to reduce detection risk and avoid triggering obvious limits.
At the DOJ press conference, FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey said the investigation was led out of Philadelphia over roughly two years, and warned: “To those who choose corruption and betrayal: we will find you.”
Wayne Jacobs, the FBI’s special agent in charge in Philadelphia, added a blunt message aimed at athletes and fixers alike: “There is nowhere to hide.”
The money hook prosecutors describe: cash bribes and NIL pressure points
Prosecutors say bribe offers typically ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game, and allege the group targeted players for whom those payments could rival or beat legitimate Name-Image-Likeness opportunities.
That matters for regulated betting markets because it highlights a vulnerability: younger athletes with limited earning power can be approached as a cheaper “entry point” for manipulation — especially in games and conferences that may draw less national scrutiny but still carry deep betting liquidity.
What the defendants face next
The DOJ says the case includes counts such as bribery in sporting contests, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
If convicted, the DOJ notes a bribery-in-sporting-contests count carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud can carry up to 20 years per count, plus fines.
Source: CBS News
