Federal prosecutors have unveiled a sweeping criminal indictment targeting 26 individuals involved in an elaborate sports gambling conspiracy that corrupted collegiate and international basketball. The sophisticated operation allegedly compromised 39 university athletes across 17 NCAA men’s basketball programs, manipulating outcomes in 29 U.S. college games and two Chinese Basketball Association contests between September 2022 and February 2025.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf characterized the operation as “a massive scheme that enveloped the world of college basketball” during a Thursday press conference. The indictment reveals that gamblers paid bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game to athletes who intentionally underperformed. Accomplices then placed substantial wagers against the compromised teams, generating illicit profits through guaranteed outcomes.
The investigation identified multiple institutions potentially affected, including Georgetown, St. John’s, Tulane, Florida Atlantic, and Butler universities among others. Several schools quickly clarified that their inclusion stemmed from allegations against opponents they had faced rather than internal misconduct.
According to prosecutors, the conspiracy originated with former Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney allegedly collaborating with professional sports bettors Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley to manipulate Chinese Basketball Association games before expanding operations to target NCAA competitions. Metcalf noted the organizers specifically recruited individuals with deep connections to college basketball networks, including alumni, trainers, and recruiters whose involvement “added gravitas and legitimacy to the scheme.”
NCAA President Charlie Baker confirmed the organization has either completed or initiated investigations into nearly all teams referenced in the indictment, acknowledging that “the pattern of college basketball game integrity conduct revealed by law enforcement today is not entirely new information to the NCAA.”
This case follows a separate February indictment involving NBA personalities and organized crime figures in illegal betting operations, with Hennen and Fairley also facing charges in that ongoing investigation. The latest developments underscore the expanding challenge sports organizations face combating gambling-related corruption.