PHILADELPHIA, PA — Federal prosecutors on Thursday unveiled sweeping charges against 26 people accused in what authorities describe as a far-reaching bribery and point-shaving scheme that allegedly sought to manipulate NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and contests in China’s professional league.
At a news conference, David Metcalf, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced the indictments alongside Andrew Bailey and Wayne Jacobs. Prosecutors allege the scheme corrupted collegiate athletics through an international conspiracy involving players, alumni, and professional bettors.
According to an indictment and related court filings unsealed Thursday, the alleged operation was led by a group of so-called fixers: Jalen Smith, 30, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Marves Fairley, 40, of Carson, Mississippi; Shane Hennen, 40, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Philadelphia; Antonio Blakeney, 29, of Kissimmee, Florida; Roderick Winkler, 31, of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Alberto Laureano, 24, of the Bronx, New York.
Prosecutors allege that beginning around September 2022, Fairley, Hennen, and others recruited and bribed players in the Chinese Basketball Association to underperform so their teams would fail to cover betting spreads. The indictment claims the fixers then placed large wagers against those teams to profit from the manipulated outcomes.
During the 2022–2023 CBA season, authorities allege Blakeney—then a leading scorer for the Jiangsu Dragons—joined the scheme and helped recruit teammates. Prosecutors say that in April 2023, Fairley left nearly $200,000 in cash in Blakeney’s Florida storage unit, representing alleged bribe payments and proceeds from the scheme.
After the alleged success overseas, prosecutors contend the group pivoted to NCAA men’s basketball. During the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 seasons, the indictment alleges the fixers recruited college players to shave points so their teams would fail to cover first-half or full-game spreads. Authorities claim bribes typically ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game and were often targeted at underdog teams and players whose compensation opportunities made the payments especially enticing.
In total, prosecutors allege the conspiracy involved more than 39 players across more than 17 NCAA Division I programs, affecting at least 29 games. The indictment claims millions of dollars were wagered, with hundreds of thousands paid to players. Investigators allege that when bets paid off, members of the scheme traveled to campuses to deliver cash payments.
If convicted, defendants charged with bribery in sporting contests could face up to five years in prison, while conspiracy and wire fraud counts carry potential sentences of up to 20 years. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis D. Lappen and Jerome M. Maiatico.
Federal authorities urged anyone with information to contact the FBI Philadelphia Field Office at 215-418-4000 and reference “NCAA point-shaving.”
The charges outlined by prosecutors are allegations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.