NCAA and Feds Investigate Widespread College Basketball Betting Ring

Federal prosecutors are getting ready to charge people in a big college basketball betting scandal. Sources say the case might involve many teams and players from schools in the South.

Investigators Close in on Suspected Game-Fixing Group Connected to Ex-NBA Player

The US Attorney’s Office in Eastern Pennsylvania has been talking to athletes they think might have played on purpose to help gamblers. People familiar with the case say the investigation covers the whole country and could lead to official charges soon, as reported by Sports Illustrated.

The case has a connection to an ongoing investigation by the Eastern District of New York into a gambling ring linked to former NBA player Jontay Porter. New York authorities are also looking into unusual betting patterns on games involving Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley, though his lawyer has stressed that Beasley faces no charges.

Sports Illustrated earlier reported that federal agents were looking at bets placed on at least nine college basketball games over the past two seasons involving a minimum of five different teams. This number might increase as investigators follow new leads. The NCAA is doing its own reviews of several programs, including New Orleans, Eastern Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, and Temple, though it is not clear yet which, if any, of these players might face criminal charges.

National Gambling Inquiry Snares University of New Orleans and Eastern Michigan

At the University of New Orleans, an internal review started in January and caused the removal of four players from the roster by early February. Interim athletic director Vince Granito has mentioned that this issue now lies between the NCAA and the athletes involved. He also pointed out that these problems go beyond a single institution and have an impact on college sports across the country.

Eastern Michigan got a notice of inquiry from the NCAA in mid-January, quickly followed by requests to get cell phone records from five people. Gambling watchdogs had pointed out two of the team’s games last season due to unusual betting activity.

Up to now, authorities have charged five men in the scheme linked to Porter, with four admitting guilt to conspiring to commit wire fraud. They expect to charge a sixth person, Shane Hennen, who police arrested earlier this year, with crimes including money laundering. Court documents indicate the operation had an impact on the country using stand-ins and fake bettors, which led to millions in illegal gains. The existing charges come from two games where

Porter faked injuries to sway prop bets, but court sessions have suggested more widespread fraud. Prosecutors have already made some defendants give up half a million dollars, but they still need to decide how much to pay back to the victims.