TLDR
- Federal prosecutors secured a guilty plea from Jalen Smith for orchestrating bribes to college basketball players worth $10,000–$30,000 per game
- The conspiracy compromised 39+ college athletes representing 17 different NCAA programs and manipulated more than 29 contests from 2022 through 2025
- Organizers deliberately sought out players with minimal NIL earnings and frequently exploited first-half betting lines to minimize detection
- The criminal enterprise originated with games in China’s professional league before transitioning to U.S. college basketball
- Federal authorities identified five individuals working together, several of whom face separate charges in an NBA-related gambling probe
On March 9, Jalen Smith entered a guilty plea in federal court, acknowledging his central role as an organizer in what prosecutors describe as one of college basketball’s most extensive point-shaving operations. Smith confessed to bribing student-athletes to intentionally perform below their capabilities, ensuring their teams wouldn’t beat the betting spread.
Compensation for participating athletes ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per contest, delivered in cash. Smith and his associates then wagered substantial sums against the compromised teams using both licensed sportsbooks and off-the-books channels.
The criminal conspiracy operated continuously from September 2022 until February 2025. Federal investigators documented participation by more than 39 student-athletes representing at least 17 NCAA basketball programs, with over 29 games manipulated during this period.
Smith’s wire fraud conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment. An additional charge for bribing participants in sporting events adds a maximum five-year term.
The scheme’s origins trace back to the Chinese Basketball Association, where members of this group initially arranged fixed outcomes before redirecting their efforts toward NCAA men’s basketball competition.
How Fixers Chose Their Targets
Smith and his collaborators deliberately avoided recruiting high-profile athletes. Instead, they systematically identified players receiving minimal or zero NIL compensation — typically athletes competing for mid-major conference schools without lucrative endorsement opportunities.
NIL regulations took effect in 2021, creating new pathways for college athletes to monetize their personal brand. Despite this regulatory change, the overwhelming majority of Division I basketball players generate little to no income through these channels.
For those players, receiving $15,000 or more in cash represented significant financial temptation. Federal prosecutors revealed that athletes also received payments simply for disclosing confidential details about teammates’ injuries and availability.
Smith maintained active communication with compromised players throughout games. Court documents describe one instance where he sent a halftime text message during a close contest, insisting the score needed to “be a blowout” and accusing the player of causing him financial losses.
Following successful betting outcomes, Smith personally visited college campuses to distribute cash payments directly to participating athletes.
When the Scheme Failed
Not every manipulation succeeded. During one contest between Buffalo and Kent State, the conspirators wagered at least $424,000 but suffered significant losses after the spread missed by just half a point.
Kent State needed to lead at halftime by more than 8.5 points but managed only an 8-point advantage. Three compromised players combined for a single point during the final 13 minutes of that half, conspicuously missing easy layups and open dunks.
The conspirators showed particular preference for first-half spread betting. This strategy allowed them to manipulate only a portion of each game without altering the final outcome.
Co-Conspirators and NBA Links
Smith operated as part of a larger network. Federal authorities named five co-conspirators. Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen allegedly established the initial CBA fixing operation. Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney received bribes, recruited his own teammates, and subsequently approached NCAA athletes. His professional experience with the Chicago Bulls provided credibility when recruiting college players.
Fairley deposited a package containing no less than $200,000 in cash at Blakeney’s Florida storage facility following the conclusion of the CBA season.
Both Fairley and Hennen face connections to a distinct October 2025 federal investigation resulting in 30 arrests related to an underground poker operation and suspected illegal wagering involving NBA contests.
That separate investigation includes allegations that someone provided advance notice of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier’s early game exit in 2023, enabling bettors to profit on proposition bets. Rozier has categorically denied any involvement.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former player Damon Jones allegedly participated in manipulated poker games. Jones faces accusations of selling confidential information about player injuries and starting lineups to gamblers, including Fairley.
The FBI uncovered the NCAA conspiracy after millions of dollars flowed through licensed sportsbooks across more than two years without triggering standard integrity monitoring systems. NCAA President Charlie Baker has subsequently urged state gaming regulators to prohibit specific betting markets, particularly first-half spreads and individual player proposition wagers.
