26 people indicted in alleged NCAA basketball game fixing conspiracy scheme
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Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Thursday that at least 26 people have been charged in an alleged “transactional criminal scheme” to fix NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball games and professional Chinese Basketball Association games.
The announcement follows the federal government’s crackdown on illegal sports gambling and point-scoring schemes that gripped the NBA in October.
David Metcalf, United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced the indictment at a press conference on Thursday, saying the alleged scheme occurred over a three-year period and involved 17 NCAA Division 1 men’s programs, dozens of college athletes and fixed games.
“When criminals pollute the purity of sports by manipulating competition, it not only compromises the integrity of sports betting markets, it also compromises the integrity of sports and everything sports represent to us: hard work, determination and fairness,” Metcalf said. he said.
“We allege a sweeping international criminal conspiracy to match-fix NCAA players, alumni and professional bettors across the country and poison the American competitive spirit for monetary gain.”
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