Jalen Smith of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on March 9 before United States District Court Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro to charges related to a bribery and point-shaving scheme involving National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s basketball games and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) games, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm.
The case is significant because it involves the manipulation of collegiate and professional basketball games for financial gain, raising concerns about the integrity of sports competitions. According to United States Attorney David Metcalf, Smith admitted guilt to multiple counts including bribery in sporting contests, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Smith was charged after an indictment was unsealed in January 2026. The scheme took place from at least September 2022 through February 2025. Prosecutors said that after co-schemers profited from fixing CBA games, they shifted their focus to NCAA men’s basketball. Smith acted as a "fixer," recruiting and bribing players with payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. He played a leadership role by managing communications with players through various means including social media and text messages.
The fixers targeted college athletes whose legitimate earnings from "Name-Image-Likeness" compensation were limited or nonexistent. They focused on underdog teams and encouraged players to help ensure their teams failed to cover the spread in specific games. In total, more than 39 players across over 17 NCAA Division I teams were involved in fixing or attempting to fix more than 29 games. For example, in early March 2024, Smith urged one player via text message during halftime that the game “need[ed] to be a blowout,” stating the player was “supposed to be . . . losing” and costing him money.
Millions of dollars were wagered on these fixed games by Smith and his associates. When successful bets were placed on manipulated outcomes, cash bribes were delivered directly to participating athletes at NCAA campuses.
Smith also pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded Khar Arms CT380 semi-automatic pistol found during a search of his residence in May 2025. The charges carry significant penalties: up to five years for bribery in sporting contests; up to twenty years each for conspiracy and wire fraud; and up to fifteen years for firearm possession by a felon.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with prosecution by Assistant United States Attorneys Louis D. Lappen and Jerome M. Maiatico. Authorities encourage anyone with information about these crimes to contact FBI Philadelphia at 215-418-4000 referencing “NCAA point-shaving.”
This case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address corruption within sports competitions.
