Man sentenced to six years for college basketball betting scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 02:02 · Archive

A man has been sentenced to six years in prison for rigging NCAA Division I basketball games as part of a point-fixing scheme.

Jalen Smith, 30, was sentenced to six years in federal prison on Tuesday for his role in an elaborate point-fixing scheme that generated millions of dollars from rigged NCAA Division I basketball games.

Prosecutors said Smith played a 'central role' in fixing games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. He placed bets and recruited players, offering them payments to purposefully underperform during matches. Professional gamblers then wagered against those players' teams, defrauding sportsbooks and other bettors, according to authorities. Smith pleaded guilty earlier this year to bribery and wire fraud charges.

The sentencing represents the first penalty handed down from an investigation that uncovered a sprawling network of professional gamblers and college basketball players who profited from fixed games. Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia office, said the sentence 'sends a clear message: Those who exploit professional and collegiate athletes for personal gain will be held accountable.' He added that the conduct 'undermines the integrity of sports and the trust placed in fair competition.'

The sentencing comes as the 2026-27 NCAA basketball season begins, when bettors will wager billions of dollars both legally and illegally on games nationwide. Law enforcement, regulators and sports leagues have struggled to keep pace with gambling's growing popularity in collegiate and professional sports.

How it is being reported

• Fixer in lucrative NCAA basketball betting scheme sentenced to 6 years in prisonProsecutors in Pennsylvania have announced that a man involved in rigging college basketball games has been sentenced to six years in prison.Clickorlando · 14 Oct, 01:27
• Fixer in lucrative NCAA basketball betting scheme sentenced to 6 years in prisonProsecutors in Pennsylvania have announced that a man involved in rigging college basketball games has been sentenced to six years in prison.News4Jax · 14 Oct, 01:27

In this story: Jalen Smith · NCAA · FBI Philadelphia · Pennsylvania

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem