A Charlotte man pleaded guilty this week to charges in a widespread sports gambling conspiracy to rig college basketball results.
Jalen Smith, 30, pleaded guilty to counts in an indictment charging him with bribery in sporting contests, and aiding and abetting; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to a news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The convictions could land Smith in prison for decades. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
Bribes offered to players
Smith and five other men were charged with approaching college players to recruit them to fix games, The News & Observer reported, citing prosecutors. Players were offered $10,000 to $30,000 bribes per game, and Smith paid players after successful bets, according to court documents.
Smith trained local basketball players for pro scouting combines and used his player connections in the scheme, KGO-TV reported, citing prosecutors.
Thirty-nine players from at least 17 teams shaved points in at least 29 Division I games in the scheme from September 2022 to February 2025, the N & O reported.
The scheme started with players in the Chinese Basketball Association before expanding to U.S. men’s college basketball games in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, court records show.
Teams with players accused of being involved in the scheme included N.C. A&T, New Orleans, Kennesaw State, DePaul, Nicholls State, Tulane, La Salle, Fordham, Northwestern State, Saint Louis, Buffalo, Robert Morris, Southern Mississippi, Coppin State, Abilene Christian and Alabama State, according to court documents.
The FBI investigated Smith’s role in the case, according to court records.
The bribery in sporting contests charge carries up to five years in prison. The conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud counts each carry up to a 20-year sentence, and the firearms count up to 15 years in prison.