Earlier this month, Jalen Smith, a ringleader in a high-profile point-shaving scandal involving US college basketball, received a substantial prison sentence in Philadelphia. During a hearing on October 14, a federal judge sentenced Smith to 72 months in prison for his involvement in one of the largest match-fixing operations in NCAA history, which impacted over 17 Division I basketball teams. He is the first defendant to be sentenced in this case, while two others have just reached plea agreements and will be sentenced early next year.
On Monday, Roderick Winkler pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges, including bribery in sports contests. Winkler, 32, admitted to collaborating with others to bribe college basketball players, encouraging them to underperform in order to enhance the odds against their teams covering the spread in designated games.
In a separate case, a former player from the University of Southern Mississippi, Arlando “Mo” Arnold, also agreed to plead guilty for his role in the scheme, admitting to bribery in sports contests and aiding in the overall operation. Arnold had averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 assists per game during the 2023-24 season as a fifth-year guard, during which he allegedly assisted in fixing two games while recruiting a co-conspirator for a third game.
Both Smith and Winkler gained access to college basketball players through grassroots training. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Winkler's background includes coaching AAU and high school basketball. Beginning in the 2023-24 season, he, along with others, sought to recruit and bribe NCAA players as part of their plan to manipulate game outcomes.
The objectives of the scheme were clear: target players who could be lured by bribes surpassing any legitimate “Name-Image-Likeness” compensation available to them. Prosecutors from the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania assert that the fixers primarily targeted underdog teams, aiming to ensure these players would fail to cover the betting spreads.
The operation involved more than 39 players across over 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, with over 29 games fixed or attempted to be fixed. The resulting scheme generated over $3 million in fraudulent bets, leading to losses of more than $1.1 million for sportsbooks nationwide.
Winkler's involvement touched roughly a dozen players, including in games involving Nicholls State, Tulane, St. Louis, Buffalo, North Carolina A&T, and Robert Morris. In March 2024, Winkler recruited Carlos Hart, a guard from the University of New Orleans, to join the scheme, leading to an underperformance in a game against Lamar that netted significant returns for the conspiracy.
Additionally, the group worked with Arnold, who participated in fixing two specific Southern Miss games during the 2023-24 season—a 73-70 loss to South Alabama and a 77-61 loss to Louisiana. Prosecutors allege Arnold played a key role in recruiting Hart for the aforementioned game against Lamar.
For the three games involved, including the two from Southern Mississippi, the conspirators could have potentially profited up to $673,885. Ultimately, the payouts amounted to $269,766, according to prosecutors.
"This news is disappointing to everyone associated with Southern Miss Athletics," commented Southern Miss Athletic Director Jeremy McClain earlier this month. "Integrity of the game is important to anyone who loves college sports."
As for legal repercussions, Winkler faces a maximum prison sentence of 45 years. He is set for sentencing on February 8, 2027, while Arnold could receive up to five years for his charge, with sentencing scheduled for March 29, 2027.
