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

Jalen Smith, 30, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for his role in a widespread point-fixing scheme in NCAA basketball, prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced on Tuesday. This was the first penalty issued as part of an investigation that uncovered a large network of professional gamblers and college basketball players who allegedly made millions off fixed games.

Smith was accused of placing bets and recruiting players to purposely underperform in games, allowing bettors to wager against those teams and defraud sportsbooks and other gamblers. Smith pleaded guilty to bribery and wire fraud charges earlier this year. The scheme allegedly involved nearly 30 NCAA basketball games across schools like DePaul University, SUNY Buffalo, and Tulane University, among others.

Smith and at least 26 other defendants are accused of wagering millions of dollars and paying hundreds of thousands in bribes to players, with payments typically ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Law enforcement, regulators, and sports leagues have struggled to keep up with gambling's growing popularity in collegiate and professional sports.

Smith, who also pleaded guilty to a separate gun possession charge, will pay $1.1 million in restitution to gambling platforms affected by the scheme.