Federal authorities say 26 people — including more than a dozen college basketball players — have been criminally charged in connection with an alleged years-long bribery and point-shaving scheme involving college and international basketball games.
At a press conference held Thursday, Jan. 15, prosecutors said the alleged scheme ran from September 2022 through February 2025 and targeted NCAA Division I men’s basketball games as well as games in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
According to federal prosecutors, the operation involved a network of “fixers” who recruited players to intentionally influence game outcomes, primarily by underperforming so their teams would fail to cover betting point spreads.
Authorities said the scheme ultimately involved 39 players across more than 17 NCAA Division I programs. Prosecutors described it as a wide-reaching operation that significantly impacted the college basketball landscape.
Alleged Bribery and Betting Operation
Prosecutors allege the fixers — a group that included gamblers, sports handicappers, a former coach, and a former NCAA player — paid athletes to manipulate game performance. In CBA games, players were allegedly bribed to play poorly so their teams would miss betting spreads. The fixers then placed large wagers against those teams.
The scheme also extended to NCAA men’s basketball, where fixers allegedly recruited players to assist in identifying and persuading teammates and opponents to accept bribes.
Authorities say the group attempted to influence more than 29 games in total and placed millions of dollars in wagers. Prosecutors allege the operation generated substantial profits for those involved.
Payments to Players
Bribe payments allegedly ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Prosecutors said players targeted were often members of underdog teams, with fixers seeking to ensure those teams failed to cover betting spreads rather than lose outright.
According to court filings, many players agreed to participate, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively in exchange for altering their performance.
Players and Seasons Involved
Prosecutors allege that 15 of the charged players competed at NCAA Division I schools during the 2024–2025 season. Five others played during the 2023–2024 season, and one player participated in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2022–2023 season.
Players named in charging documents include Simeon Cottle, Carlos Hart, Oumar Koureissi, and Camian Shell.
Prosecutors Warn of Broader Impact
Federal officials said the alleged conduct represents a serious threat to the integrity of competitive sports.
Prosecutors emphasized that public trust in athletics depends on fairness and honest competition, and warned that efforts to corrupt games through criminal activity undermine one of the country’s most prominent cultural institutions.
The cases remain ongoing, and additional charges are possible.