Federal prosecutors have unsealed a major indictment charging 26 individuals in what authorities describe as a widespread, transnational criminal conspiracy to fix men’s basketball games at the NCAA Division I level and in China’s professional league (CBA).
This comes on the heels of an ongoing investigation into illegal gambling allegations that managed to ensnare major NBA names back in October.
The announcement comes from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The scheme allegedly involved point-shaving—deliberately underperforming to ensure a team failed to cover the betting spread—allowing conspirators to place large wagers and profit from sportsbooks.
It’s been the standard method for gambling scandals in basketball for decades, and clearly, something the NCAA and the NBA have not yet figured out how to deal with.
“[Defendants] aided and abetted the carrying into effect, the attempt to carry into effect, and the conspiracy to carry into effect, a scheme in commerce to influence by bribery sporting contests, that is, Chinese Basketball Association (“CBA”) men’s basketball games and National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) men’s basketball games, with the defendants engaging in different aspects of this scheme, with knowledge that the purpose of this scheme was to influence in some way those contests by bribery,” the indictment reads, according to Fox News Digital.
Key Details in College Basketball Point Shaving Indictment
According to the indictment, more than 39 players across at least 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball programs fixed or attempted to fix dozens of games, including some conference tournament contests. How much of a degenerate does one have to be to be willing to underperform in games the team needs in order to move on in tournament play? You’ve got others relying on you, man.
The NCAA involvement allegedly spanned the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Bribes to participating players reportedly ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game, with the conspirators placing bets totaling millions of dollars. The keyword here is “placed.” Meaning they no doubt won much more by placing those bets on sure-fire wins.
The operation involved recruiting players—sometimes by former teammates or alumni—to influence outcomes, primarily by ensuring the favored team did not cover the point spread.
Among the named defendants is former NBA player and McDonald’s All-American Antonio Blakeney, who played college ball at LSU and later starred in the CBA with the Jiangsu Dragons. Blakeney played for the Chicago Bulls for two seasons before becoming a star player for Jiangsu. He was the CBA scoring champion for the 2023 season.
Prosecutors allege Blakeney was recruited, accepted bribes to underperform, and then helped recruit others on his team. Other involved programs include Tulane, Nicholls State, St. Louis University, Fordham, DePaul, and several mid-major institutions (none from Power Four conferences, per reports).
Specific players from programs such as Eastern Michigan and New Orleans have also been identified in connection with the case.
BREAKING | NBC News: At least 20 people charged in large-scale NCAA men’s basketball and Chinese Basketball Association alleged betting scheme, according to an indictment sought by federal prosecutors in Philadelphia.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) January 15, 2026
Story: https://t.co/46kgrtHB1w
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Here Are the Charges
The charges include bribery in sporting contests, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aiding and abetting. Some defendants face potential maximum sentences of years in prison if convicted.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf emphasized the broader impact during a press conference in Philadelphia.
“When criminals pollute the purity of sports by manipulating competition, it doesn’t just imperil the integrity of sports betting markets and imperils the integrity of sport itself and everything that sports represent to us, you know, hard work, determination, and fairness,” he said.
“We allege 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.”
The case ties into a larger federal crackdown on illicit sports gambling, following recent investigations into similar issues in the NBA and other leagues throughout 2025. The NBA saw shocking federal arrests duirng the fall involving Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and others, including former player and ex-coach Damon Jones.
The sprawling allegations in that case included game-fixing, stat-fixing, and rigged poker games.
This latest developing story is part of an ongoing FBI investigation, and additional arrests or details may emerge.