Fixers allegedly targeted 29 games across 17 Division I programs|Michael Li|CC BY-NC 2.0
Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia this week unsealed indictments against 26 individuals, including 22 current and former NCAA players, in a massive college basketball match-fixing scandal.
The scheme spans the US and China and was allegedly orchestrated by trainers and two main men, Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley.
According to Attorney David Metcalf, the fixers targeted 29 games across 17 Division I programs, offering bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.
The operation began in 2022 by bribing former LSU player Antonio Blakeney to influence professional games in the Chinese Basketball Association. Blakeney reportedly received nearly $200,000 in cash for his participation.
The investigation follows a string of recent sports betting scandals. It has prompted NCAA President Charlie Baker to renew calls for a ban on halftime and prop wagers.