Trending Now - NCAA Scandal: Fixer Admits Guilt in Point-shaving Scheme
WHO:
Jalen Smith, 30 years old, from Charlotte, North Carolina
U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro
Jalen Smith, fixer in NCAA point-shaving scheme
Federal prosecutors' office in Philadelphia
26 individuals charged in the scheme, including 17 former college basketball players and 4 active players
WHAT:
Smith pleaded guilty to bribery in sporting contests, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Smith faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail for the bribery charge, up to 20 years for each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and a maximum of 15 years for the firearms charge.
The scheme involved more than 39 players on over 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, rigging or attempting to rig more than 29 games.
Jalen Smith pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery charges
Smith became the first of 26 charged individuals to plead guilty
The scheme involved rigging more than 29 NCAA basketball games
Payments to players typically ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game
Smith delivered about $32,000 in cash to two players involved in the scheme
WHERE:
Federal court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Charlotte, North Carolina (Smith's residence)
Louisiana (location where Smith delivered cash)
More than 40 schools targeted, including Tulane University and DePaul University
WHEN:
Smith was engaged in the scheme from at least September 2022 through at least February 2025.
Smith pleaded guilty on March 9th, 2026
Charges against Smith were unsealed in January 2026
Smith was active in fixing games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons
The scheme began with two games in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2023
WHY:
Fixers specifically targeted college players for whom the bribe payments would meaningfully supplement their income, especially in light of name, image, and likeness (NIL) brand deals.
The scheme aimed to cash in on big bets on rigged NCAA basketball games
Players were promised large payments in exchange for underperforming during games
HOW:
Smith and other fixers communicated with players through social media, text messages, and phone calls, offering bribe payments typically ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.
Smith used connections with local basketball players to recruit them into the scheme
Fixers placed bets against the players' teams in the rigged games
Players were recruited to cooperate by playing badly, sitting out, or preventing teammates from scoring
(UPDATED March 9, 2026 23:08 UTC)
Jalen Smith, a 30-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including bribery in sporting contests and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, among others, in a case overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro. The scheme, which spanned from September 2022 to February 2025, involved more than 39 players across 17 NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, with fixers targeting college athletes to supplement their income through bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Smith now faces a maximum of five years in prison for the bribery charge, with potential sentences of up to 20 years for each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 15 years for the firearms charge.
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(UPDATED March 9, 2026 21:06 UTC)
Jalen Smith pleaded guilty today in federal court in Philadelphia to wire fraud and bribery charges, becoming the first of 26 individuals charged in a major NCAA point-shaving scheme. The scheme, which involved rigging over 29 college basketball games and targeted more than 40 schools, promised players payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game for underperforming, with Smith himself delivering about $32,000 in cash to two players. Smith's involvement in fixing games spanned the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, and he used his connections with local basketball players to recruit them into this illegal operation.