Inside six college basketball games the feds say were fixed

On March 5, 2024, in Buffalo, Chicago, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, male college basketball athletes from three separate teams were set to undertake the very same task: deliberately perform poorly in their matches to aid gamblers in winning, according to federal prosecutors.

In an indictment comprising 70 pages unsealed on Thursday, federal prosecutors claim that a gambling ring bribed 39 NCAA basketball athletes from 17 Division I basketball squads to manipulate scores in numerous games throughout the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

While the total amount wagered is uncertain, the indictment indicates that the gambling ring placed at least $3.6 million in bets on the first-half and full-game spreads of college contests. The two games that attracted the highest bets involved $458,000 on Towson to cover the first-half spread against North Carolina A&T on February 29, 2024, and $424,000 on Kent State to cover the first-half spread against Buffalo on February 27, 2024. Both wagers were successful.

Here’s a detailed overview of six games the authorities assert were fixed:

Robert Morris forward Markeese Hastings alongside two additional players from the Colonials received a text from one of the fixers stating, «Got the RMU boys ready, waiting on you.»

The sportsbooks had Northern Kentucky as a 1.5-point favorite for the first half of the match at UPMC Events Center in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The fixers wagered a minimum of $256,000 on Northern Kentucky to cover the first-half spread.

The players fell short of expectations, and the gambling ring profited handsomely, claim the prosecutors. Robert Morris was behind 42-23 at halftime but narrowed the gap in the second half, ultimately losing 70-60.

The following day, the fixers were coordinating to meet Hastings close to a hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Robert Morris was scheduled to play its next game, to hand over the payout. Hastings allegedly messaged: «We might as well do the next one too … [this] was too easy.»

The subsequent week, Robert Morris faced Purdue-Fort Wayne, which was favored by 7 points in the first half. The gambling ring allocated $50,000 plus parlays on Purdue-Fort Wayne, which led 46-28 at halftime. It seems the players received a larger share than anticipated, according to the indictment.

«Y’all gave me an extra band [$1,000],» Hastings purportedly told a fixer. «I [don’t] know if that was intentional or not. Unless bro counted wrong lol but I doubt it.»

Nicholls State vs. McNeese State (February 17, 2024)

In the match at Stopher Gymnasium in Thibodaux, Louisiana, McNeese State was a 12-point favorite over Nicholls State.

Based on the indictment, Nicholls State forwards Oumar Koureissi and Diante Smith conspired to put forth a lackluster performance during the game. The betting ring staked at least $100,000 on McNeese State at sportsbooks nationwide and internationally, primarily on the full-game spread, according to the documents.

Koureissi recorded no points in the game, and McNeese State triumphed 74-47, comfortably covering the spread.

The indictment states: «Shortly after this game, defendant Jalen Smith traveled to Louisiana to arrange the delivery of approximately $32,000 in cash to defendant Oumar Koureissi and Diante Smith as bribe payments for their roles in manipulating the game against McNeese State.

«While organizing this delivery, defendant Smith communicated via text with defendant Koureissi and Diante Smith, notifying them that the ‘bread,’ or bribe payment, would be delivered by someone driving a truck,» the indictment elaborates. Koureissi also indicated in texts and other messages that he would assist Jalen Smith in recruiting additional players for the scheme, according to the documents.

Georgetown vs. DePaul (February 24, 2024)

In late February, fixers reached agreements with several DePaul players—Jalen Terry, Da’Sean Nelson, Micawber Etienne, and a fourth unnamed player—to manipulate the first half of the upcoming Georgetown matchup to ensure DePaul did not cover, as per the indictment. Georgetown was favored by 2.5 points at sportsbooks nationwide.

The gambling ring placed approximately $27,000 on the first-half outcome. Georgetown led 41-28 at halftime.

«Around halftime of this game, when it became evident that the point-shaving plot was thriving, defendant Jalen Smith messaged Etienne regarding organizing the bribe payment and commended defendants Terry and Nelson for underperforming as per their agreement: ‘I love Jalen Terry; he nailed his part . . . Sh-t Nelson snapped too,'» the indictment states.

In the second half, DePaul «performed significantly better,» prosecutors remarked, with Georgetown eventually winning 77-76.

Terry, who did not record any points in the first half, scored 16 in the second half.

Shortly after, authorities claimed, the fixers traveled to Chicago to hand over $40,000 in cash to the DePaul players, and Etienne texted one of the fixers, «[J]ust hit me we got another game this weekend.»

The players were also accused of underperforming in contests against Butler and St. John’s the following week. All bets, totaling nearly $200,000, were successful, with players receiving substantial amounts, prosecutors stated.

Terry and Nelson subsequently continued their activities after transferring to Eastern Michigan in the 2024-25 season, according to the indictment. One of the fixers advised Terry to enlist additional teammates: «Need all y’all like last year and it’s a lock money super duper good let’s work.»

Tulane vs. East Carolina (February 18, 2024)

East Carolina was favored by 2.5 points against Tulane at Minges Coliseum in Greenville, North Carolina. Prosecutors allege that fixers had recruited Tulane forward Kevin Cross during a video call and offered him $30,000 to underperform.

According to prosecutors, the gambling ring wagered at least $140,000 on East Carolina to cover the full-game spread.

On the day of the match, one of the defendants, Marves Fairley, messaged an associate, «‘In the car with the guys . . . Be ready to bet on this college game coming up in two hours. Tulane/East Carolina,'» the indictment claims. «Later in this conversation, Fairley acknowledged that the game was ‘one of those 100% guaranteed games’ and stated, ‘I got total of 200k [$220,000]’ in bets on the match.»

Cross managed to score four points in the game, significantly below his average of 17.5 points for the season, and East Carolina won 81-67.

Shortly thereafter, the fixers «coordinated to deliver approximately $30,000 in cash» to Cross.

The indictment mentions that the defendants attempted to utilize Cross to manipulate another match, Tulane’s game on March 2, 2024, against Florida Atlantic, which was favored by 15 points but ended up winning by only six. Cross had 14 points and three rebounds in that defeat.

The gambling ring incurred a loss of approximately $200,000 on the Florida Atlantic game, according to prosecutors.

Fordham vs. Duquesne (February 23, 2024)

Jalen Smith, one of the alleged fixers who collaborated with local basketball players in North Carolina, recruited Fordham forward Elijah Gray through shared connections in the basketball scene in their home state, according to the indictment. Gray was offered between $10,000 to $15,000 to underperform in the Duquesne game. During a video call, Gray consented to also recruiting a teammate, referred to as «Person 4» in the scheme, as alleged by prosecutors.

In the match at Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx, Duquesne was favored by 3.5 points. The gambling ring had a stake of about $195,000 on Duquesne to cover the spread.

Both Gray and the other participant performed below their season averages, with Gray scoring three points; however, Fordham won 79-67, resulting in the loss of the bets.

Afterward, Smith messaged Gray and the teammate concerning the result. «Gray informed defendant Smith, ‘I tried,’ and mentioned that the Duquesne players were ‘not hoopin,’ or played poorly, making it challenging for Duquesne to cover the spread.»

Kennesaw State vs. Queens (March 1, 2024)

The fixers initially roped in Kennesaw State star Simeon Cottle into the scheme in February 2024, tasking him with recruiting teammate Demond Robinson and another unnamed player to join them, according to the indictment.

Queens was favored by 1.5 points over Kennesaw State in the match at Curry Arena in Charlotte. Prior to the game, the gamblers allegedly wagered $20,000 on Queens to cover, prosecutors noted.

«Queens ny first half,» one of the defendants reportedly texted a co-conspirator.

That day, fixer Jalen Smith sent Cottle a photo of around $100,000 in cash he was transporting by plane, «highlighting the significant sum involved in the point-shaving operation and defendant Smith’s determination to make bribe payments to the Kennesaw State athletes.»

Queens comfortably surpassed the spread, dominating the first half 52-39. Kennesaw secured the second half 43-39 but ultimately lost the game 91-82. Cottle, who recorded no points in the opening half, scored 13 in the second.

The next day, per the indictment, Cottle provided Smith with an address for the bribe delivery on campus and received $40,000 in cash to distribute among himself and the two teammates.

That November, prosecutors claim, Cottle communicated with Smith about recruiting additional teammates, and Smith «offered to ‘flash 200k or sumn [sic] to help persuade.» Cottle allegedly responded that the other players were not keen.