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Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Thursday that at least 26 people have been charged in connection with an alleged “transactional criminal scheme” to fix NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball games and Chinese Basketball Federation professional games.
The announcement follows the federal government’s crackdown on illicit sports gambling and point-sharing schemes that engulfed the NBA in October.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania David Metcalf announced the indictment at a news conference Thursday, where he said the alleged scheme unfolded over a three-year period and involved 17 NCAA Division 1 men’s programs and dozens of college athletes and game-fixing.
“When criminals pollute the purity of sports by manipulating competition, it not only jeopardizes the integrity of sports betting markets, but also the integrity of sports itself and everything that sports represents to us, you know, hard work, determination and fairness,” Metcalf said.
“We allege a vast international criminal conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni and professional bettors who fixed games across the country and poisoned the American spirit of competition for monetary gain.”
This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
