Earlier this month, a significant player in the US college basketball point-shaving scandal was sentenced in Philadelphia. On October 14, Jalen Smith, identified as a ringleader, received a 72-month prison term due to his involvement in a major match-fixing operation that implicated more than 17 NCAA Division I teams. Smith's sentencing marks the first judgment in this extensive case, with two other defendants expected to learn their fates early next year after recently agreeing to plea deals.
On Monday, Roderick Winkler entered a guilty plea before US District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro on multiple felony charges, including bribery in sports competitions. The 32-year-old was involved in securing the participation of players to underperform during games, thereby manipulating the betting odds in favor of their teams not covering the spread.
In addition, Arlando “Mo” Arnold, a former guard for the University of Southern Mississippi, also agreed to plead guilty to bribery and aiding the scheme. During the 2023-24 season, Arnold, who averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 assists per game, allegedly contributed to fixing two games while recruiting a co-conspirator in another.
Winkler, similar to Smith, gained access to elite college athletes through work as a trainer at grassroots levels. A resident of Little Rock, Arkansas, Winkler coached and trained players in AAU and high school basketball, as noted in court filings. Beginning in the 2023-24 season, he facilitated the recruitment of NCAA athletes and incentivized them with bribes in a bid to fix multiple games.
The players targeted had opportunities for Name-Image-Likeness compensation that could be outmatched by the bribes offered, according to a press release. Prosecutors from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleged that the fixers primarily focused on underdog teams to increase the chances of them failing to cover betting spreads. Overall, the scheme engaged over 39 players across more than 17 NCAA Division I men's basketball teams, successfully fixing or attempting to fix about 29 NCAA games. The fraudulent activities culminated in over $3 million in wagers and more than $1.1 million in losses for sportsbooks nationwide.
Winkler participated in schemes involving around a dozen players and games featuring teams such as Nicholls State, Tulane, St. Louis, Buffalo, North Carolina A&T, and Robert Morris. In March 2024, he and accomplices enlisted Carlos Hart, a guard at the University of New Orleans, to join their effort. Hart and a teammate faltered in a game against Lamar, resulting in a six-figure profit for the syndicate.
Around the same period, Winkler collaborated with Arnold, who aided in fixing two games during the 2023-24 season: a 73-70 loss to South Alabama and a 77-61 defeat to Louisiana. Prosecutors claim Arnold also helped recruit Hart for the Lamar game.
The potential winnings from the Southern Mississippi games alongside the game against New Orleans amounted to $673,885, yet the syndicate only profited $269,766 after failing to beat the spread in one contest.
"This news is disappointing to everyone associated with Southern Miss athletics,” stated Southern Miss athletic director Jeremy McClain in January. "Integrity of the game is important to anyone who loves college sports."
Winkler faces a maximum possible sentence of 45 years for his convictions, with sentencing scheduled for February 8, 2027. Arnold could receive a maximum of five years for his role in the bribery and is set for sentencing on March 29, 2027.
