Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia recently charged 26 individuals tied to a scheme that manipulated bets on college basketball and Chinese Basketball Association games. This point-shaving operation affected at least 36 players across 17 teams, as revealed in a detailed indictment.
Many of the defendants played college basketball during the NCAA seasons of 2023-24 and 2024-25. Notably, some were already under NCAA scrutiny for betting violations and were ineligible to compete. Yet, a few, like Carlos Hart, Camian Shell, and Oumar Koureissi, were actively participating in games up until their indictments. Kennesaw State’s Simeon Cottle, who was recently suspended, had just scored 21 points the night before he was charged.
The indictment describes a group referred to as “the fixers” who initially focused on CBA games during the 2022-23 season before shifting their sights to NCAA players. They enlisted athletes to ensure their teams didn’t cover point spreads as required for bets. Among the fixers were Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen, who were previously indicted in New York for similar actions related to the NBA.
Manipulating a team sport isn’t easy. Players need to look just bad enough to throw a game without getting benched. Some tried recruiting teammates into the scheme. For example, Shawn Fulcher, playing at Buffalo and later at Alabama State, texted a fixer expressing urgency to get the scheme rolling, showing a disturbing disregard for fair play.
Interestingly, attempts to rig games often flopped. In one instance, during a game between Buffalo and Kent State, Fulcher and his teammates managed to score just one point in 13 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to secure a favorable outcome for the bet. The indictment highlights the immense pressure these players faced to both perform poorly and avoid being noticed.
Things became even more complicated when teammates unaware of the scheme performed well. During a game where four DePaul players agreed to underperform, one unaware teammate played impressively, causing distress for those involved in the plot.
The risks didn’t stop there. A Fordham player, Elijah Gray, was offered a hefty bribe to manipulate a game, but his team unexpectedly won, thwarting the plan. Messages after the match revealed frustration among the fixers that players not in on the scheme had played too well.
Even when fixers urged players to underperform, they faced challenges. In a game involving Southern Mississippi, fixers sent messages encouraging their teammates to allow easy scoring. One players’ response highlighted the struggle: their opponents were just too poor in performance to lose convincingly.
Moreover, the scheme lacked operational security. Fixers often expressed concern about incriminating messages. As one text noted, avoiding risky conversations was crucial, given the severe legal consequences at stake.
Overall, this scandal not only raises questions about integrity in sports but also highlights the personal struggles of those involved—caught between the desire for success and the lure of easy money. The full indictment is available here.
