On Thursday, federal prosecutors initiated charges against 20 present and former college basketball athletes in the U.S. This incident has been labeled by authorities as the most extensive point-shaving scandal in the past 75 years, supposedly involving a vast betting scheme that manipulated nearly 30 games across 17 NCAA Division I teams.

A grand jury indictment revealed in Philadelphia charged the defendants with being part of an “international criminal conspiracy,” featuring allegations of bribery, wire fraud, and illicit sports betting linked to NCAA events and matches in China’s professional league. Prosecutors identified that players received payments to intentionally underperform, causing their teams to fail in meeting the betting point spreads.

“This was a colossal scheme that encompassed the entirety of college basketball,” declared David Metcalf, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “It involved games during playoffs and conference championships, leading to significant corruption of sports integrity.”

According to the indictment, accused leaders Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley allegedly gambled millions on the fixed matches, compensating players between $10,000 and $30,000 for each game. The scheme reportedly included teams from the Gulf Coast, Midwest, Northeast, and Southern United States, with specific mentions of programs in New Orleans, Tulane, Nicholls State, Alabama State, Buffalo, and Fordham.

Authorities noted that the plot commenced as early as September 2022, initially manipulating games in the Chinese Basketball Association before extending to U.S. college basketball. Ex-Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney faced charges for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, accused of fixing games in China, enlisting teammates, and later orchestrating point shaving in NCAA games after his return to the U.S.

Prosecutors cited an instance where the conspirators wagered at least $198,300 with BetRivers Sportsbook in Philadelphia on a manipulated match.

Joining Metcalf, Andrew Bailey, co-deputy director of the FBI, cautioned that law enforcement is committed to aggressively pursuing similar cases. “To those engaged in corruption and betrayal: we will identify you, investigate you, and ensure you are held responsible,” he stated.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced the initiation of integrity investigations related to sports betting focusing on around 40 student-athletes from 20 different institutions over the past year, with several individuals already permanently banned. In a statement, NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the organization’s collaboration with law enforcement.

“Maintaining the integrity of competition is paramount for the NCAA,” Baker expressed, asserting that the indictments are indicative of effective enforcement. He reiterated calls to abolish collegiate prop bets, which he argued present elevated integrity risks.

“Prop bets are potentially one of the most damaging factors in sports betting,” Baker continued. “It adversely affects the players when they either fail or succeed on these so-called props, creating harmful incentives for all.”

Prosecutors and analysts have drawn parallels between this case and the infamous 1951 City College of New York point-shaving scandal, which resulted in lifetime bans for numerous athletes. Metcalf refrained from making a direct comparison but referred to the ongoing case as “historic” in magnitude.

“The implications here are far more significant than anything on a betting slip,” Metcalf stated. “It undermines public trust in the integrity of sports, which is fundamentally built on honesty, fairness, and adherence to competition rules.”