This month has seen further developments in the US college basketball point-shaving scandal, with two individuals entering guilty pleas.
On October 14, Jalen Smith, a key figure in the scandal, was sentenced in a Philadelphia courtroom to 72 months in prison. He is the first to receive a sentence in this extensive match-fixing scheme that involved over 17 NCAA Division I basketball teams. Two additional defendants reached plea agreements this week and are awaiting sentencing early next year.
Roderick Winkler, aged 32, appeared before US District Judge Nitza I Quiñones Alejandro, where he pled guilty to several felony charges, including bribery in sporting contests. Winkler's role included recruiting players to underperform purposely, which would enhance the odds of their teams not meeting the point spread in targeted games.
In a separate case, former University of Southern Mississippi player Arlando “Mo” Arnold pled guilty to charges of bribery in sporting contests and aiding the scheme. Arnold, a fifth-year senior who played as a guard for the Golden Eagles, averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 assists per game in the 2023-24 season. He reportedly contributed to fixing two games and enlisted a co-conspirator for a third game.
Both Smith and Winkler established connections with prominent college basketball players through their involvement in grassroots-level training. Winkler, from Little Rock, Arkansas, had served as a coach in AAU and high school basketball, allowing him to gain access to these athletes.
Starting in the 2023-24 season, Winkler collaborated with others to recruit NCAA players and bribe them into fixing games. According to court documents, they focused on players whose compensation from "Name-Image-Likeness" opportunities could be significantly overshadowed by the offered bribes.
The scheme specifically targeted underdog teams, aiming to manipulate the outcomes so these teams would fail to cover spreads. Prosecutors from the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania revealed that the overall bribery and point-shaving conspiracy involved more than 39 players across 17 NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, leading to the fixing or attempted fixing of upwards of 29 NCAA games.
The operations resulted in fraudulent wagers exceeding $3 million, with sportsbooks suffering losses surpassing $1.1 million nationwide.
Winkler's involvement included schemes affecting approximately a dozen players from teams such as Nicholls State, Tulane, St. Louis, Buffalo, North Carolina A&T, and Robert Morris. Notably, in March 2024, he recruited Carlos Hart, a guard from the University of New Orleans, to partake in the conspiracy. Hart and another player underperformed in a game against Lamar, resulting in significant financial gains for the syndicate.
Additionally, Winkler partnered with Arnold, who was involved in the Southern Miss games against South Alabama and Louisiana during the 2023-24 season. Prosecutors assert that Arnold was instrumental in bringing Hart into the game against Lamar.
For the Southern Miss games and the fix involving New Orleans, the syndicate stood to win a total of $673,885. Despite this, they ultimately netted $269,766 as they did not meet the spread in one of the games.
Southern Miss athletic director Jeremy McClain expressed disappointment over the situation in January, asserting the importance of integrity in college sports.
Winkler could face up to 45 years in prison; sentencing is set for February 8, 2027. Arnold faces a maximum of five years for his involvement in the bribery charge, with his sentencing scheduled for March 29, 2027.
