Federal prosecutors charged 26 people in an alleged point-shaving scheme involving dozens of college basketball players, authorities announced Thursday.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf said the scheme involved 39 players adn 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, and alleged the conspiracy either fixed or attempted to fix 29 games.
“This was a massive scheme,” Metcalf told reporters during a news conference in Philadelphia. “It enveloped the world of college basketball.”
According to the indictment unsealed Thursday, players were allegedly bribed to tank games to enrich sports gamblers.
“This was a significant and rampant corruption of college athletics,” Metcalf said.
Some alleged attempts to fix games were unsuccessful for various reasons, including players who didn’t cooperate with the scheme or others who failed to make games go a certain way, metcalf said.
“in basketball, one player could substantially influence a game in ways that in other sports you cannot, but it’s not a guarantee,” Metcalf said. “but by and large,the scheme was very successful.”
The allegations cover a period between September 2022 and February 2025. The indictment also includes allegations of influencing or fixing Chinese Basketball Association men’s basketball games.
Some of the people allegedly involved in the scheme were former college players who are accused of bribing current college players to shave points on games so bettors could capitalize.
Metcalf said the bribes could range between $10,000 and $30,000 per game.The people behind the alleged scheme are accused of finding games in which a corrupted player was on a team that was favored to lose and then bribing the player to deliberately underperform during the game and not cover the point spread, Metcalf said.
“For example, if a team was favored to lose by 4 points, the player would receive a bribe to underperform so that his team would lose by more than that,” Metcalf said at a news conference announcing the charges in Philadelphia.
Games involving the following teams were allegedly rigged or impacted, investigators say: Abilene Christian, Alabama State, Butler, depaul, Duquesne, East Carolina, Florida atlantic, Fordham, Georgetown, Kennesaw State, kent State, La Salle, McNeese State, nicholls State, Ohio University, St. Louis University, St. John’s, SUNY Buffalo, tulane and Western Michigan University.
“An extensive international criminal conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni and professional bettors who fixed games across the country and poisoned the american spirit of competition for monetary gain,” Metcalf said.
Tulane said in a statement it would cooperate with authorities “where appropriate” after Kevin Cross, a former forward for the school, was charged in the indictment. Cross was accused of taking a bribe of approximately $30,000 to keep Tulane from covering the spread in a 2024 game against East Carolina.
Sports Betting and College Athletics: recent Developments (as of january 16, 2026)
Here’s a breakdown of recent events related to sports betting and its impact on college athletics, based on the provided text and independent verification as of January 16, 2026.
The provided text references a statement from NCAA President Charlie Baker regarding indictments related to sports betting in college athletics and a call for states to ban certain types of bets.it also mentions arrests of NBA figures in connection with alleged illegal gambling rings.
1. NCAA President Baker’s Statement (January 15, 2026)
According to the source, NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement concerning recent indictments involving sports betting and college athletics. The statement specifically calls on remaining states to prohibit “risky bets.” Further details of the statement’s specific recommendations and the nature of the “risky bets” are not provided in the excerpt. Independent verification of the full statement and its specific recommendations is needed.
2. NBA Player Arrests (October/November 2025)
The article references arrests made in October/November 2025 involving NBA players Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones, along with dozens of others. These arrests were part of an FBI crackdown on alleged illegal gambling rings.
* Verification: CBS News reported in November 2025 that Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones were among those facing charges related to an examination into illegal sports betting.The investigation involved allegations of betting on NBA games. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/illegal-sports-betting-arrests-terry-rozier-chauncey-billups/)
3. Broader Context: Sports Betting and College Athletics
The events described highlight the growing concerns surrounding the intersection of sports betting and both professional and collegiate athletics. The NCAA has been grappling with how to manage the risks associated with legalized sports betting, including potential impacts on game integrity and student-athlete well-being. Baker’s call for states to ban certain bets suggests a focus on mitigating these risks.
Related Entities:
* NCAA (national Collegiate Athletic Association): The governing body for college athletics in the United States.
* Charlie Baker: Current President of the NCAA.
* FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation): The agency conducting the investigation into illegal gambling rings.
* Chauncey Billups: NBA player arrested in connection with alleged illegal gambling.
* Terry Rozier: NBA player arrested in connection with alleged illegal gambling.
* Damon Jones: NBA player arrested in connection with alleged illegal gambling.
* State Governments: Relevant as Baker is calling on them to enact or modify betting regulations.
Latest Verified Status (as of January 16, 2026):
The information regarding the arrests of billups, Rozier, and Jones is verified by reporting from CBS News in November 2025. The NCAA President’s statement is referenced but requires further verification to understand the specifics of his recommendations. The overall situation remains dynamic as states continue to navigate the evolving landscape of sports betting regulation.
