Fixer in lucrative NCAA basketball betting scheme sentenced to 6 years in prison

Jalen Smith, a 30-year-old individual from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, according to prosecutors in Pennsylvania. The sentencing marks the first penalty in an investigation that uncovered a vast network of professional gamblers and college basketball players involved in fixing games for financial gain.

U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced the sentence on Tuesday, stating that Smith played a "central role" in the scheme during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 NCAA Division I basketball seasons. Smith and at least 26 other named defendants allegedly placed bets, recruited players with promises of payments, and encouraged players to underperform in specific games to ensure predetermined point spreads.

The scheme allegedly involved almost 30 NCAA basketball games, including schools such as DePaul University, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Tulane University. Prosecutors claimed that these players were offered bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Smith pleaded guilty earlier this year to bribery and wire fraud charges, while the investigation also targeted over a dozen former college basketball players and four active college players last season. Smith will also pay $1.1 million in restitution to gambling platforms affected by the scheme.