26 Individuals Charged in NCAA and CBA Game-Fixing Investigation

Post by : Mina Rahman

An extensive federal investigation has revealed a major operation to manipulate basketball games in both the NCAA and the Chinese Basketball Association, resulting in charges against 26 individuals, including several collegiate players, as confirmed by authorities. This conspiracy is believed to have persisted as recently as the last season.

Officials stated that the operation was primarily spearheaded by gamblers who enticed players with money to intentionally perform poorly during games. After convincing players to comply, the conspirators would place wagers against those teams, misleading both sportsbooks and other bettors.

U.S. Attorney David Metcalf referred to this case as an “international criminal conspiracy,” marking a significant threat to the integrity of sports. He also indicated that further individuals, including some unnamed players, might be implicated and that the inquiry is still ongoing.

This indictment arrives amid a series of gambling-related scandals in sports, following a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 that facilitated the legalization of sports betting across the United States. There have been notable past cases wherein at least 10 players received lifetime bans from the NCAA, alongside federal charges against professional baseball players over bribery.

The 26 charged face various offenses, including bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy. According to authorities, five individuals acted as “fixers”—three of whom had connections to players through either training or coaching, while two were identified as gamblers and sports analysts.

The operation first took shape during two CBA games in 2023. Following initial success, the fixers expanded their tactics to NCAA games, targeting upwards of 39 players across 17 Division I men’s basketball teams and attempting to manipulate over 29 games. Players were typically bribed between $10,000 and $30,000 per game, resulting in substantial betting activity.

NCAA President Charlie Baker underscored the significance of maintaining competition integrity and stated that nearly all teams implicated in the indictment are under investigation by the organization. Over 40 schools have been identified as affected entities, including Tulane University and DePaul University.

The conspiracy also involved targeting key games and playoffs, including championships in leagues like the Horizon League and Southland Conference. Players often persuaded teammates to comply, intentionally underperforming or preventing others from scoring. In several instances, fixes fell through, leading to losses for those attempting the deception.

Investigators noted that the fixers used text messages to lure players, sometimes sending images of cash as proof of payment. In one notable example, a fixer tried to entice a Saint Louis University player to influence a teammate, stating, “send that to him if he bite he bite if he don’t so be it lol.” Another fixer offered Eastern Michigan University players $3,000 each to engage in a game-fixing scheme.

Typically, cash payments were delivered in person, although one fixer failed to compensate four players from Alabama State University following a game in 2024 against the University of Southern Mississippi.

Among those charged are four players—Simeon Cottle, Carlos Hart, Oumar Koureissi, and Camian Shell—who had recently played for their institutions, although the allegations pertain to the 2023-24 season. Fifteen defendants participated in NCAA Division I during the 2024-25 season, five in 2023-24, with former NBA player Antonio Blakeney involved in the CBA during 2022-23.

Authorities uncovered that approximately $200,000 in bribes and winnings from two rigged CBA games were found in Blakeney’s Florida locker post-2022-23 season. One fixer even texted another to assure them, “There are no guarantees in this world but death, taxes, and Chinese basketball.”

This case not only amplifies concerns about the effects of legalized sports betting but also demonstrates the extremes some individuals may reach to manipulate game outcomes, prompting further federal attention and NCAA inquiries.