The NCAA Division I college basketball season is just around the corner, bringing with it a significant legal development tied to one of the sport's most notorious point-shaving scandals. On Tuesday in Philadelphia, Jalen Smith, a self-professed match fixer, learned his sentence. He orchestrated a scheme that implicated numerous student athletes over two years, targeting teams coached by well-known figures like Rick Pitino and Dusty May.
In front of U.S. District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro, Smith expressed remorse, accepting responsibility for his actions. This case has drawn in at least 20 players from more than a dozen programs across the country. At 30 years old, Smith received a 72-month prison term and was ordered to pay roughly $1.1 million in restitution. His sentence is on the lower end of the federal guidelines, which suggest a range of 70 to 87 months.
“My decisions have consequences and I accept all of them,” Smith stated before the court. This sentencing marks the beginning of several gambling-related trials that will unfold across the nation over the next few months. By late March, courtrooms will see a mix of former professional athletes, bookmakers, and poker players facing charges tied to match-fixing.
Federal prosecutors had charged Smith in January over the extensive bribery and point-shaving operation. Allegedly, players involved received bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 for participating in the scheme. While Smith was labeled as the lead defendant, his attorney, Rocco Cipparone, indicated he was not involved in another scheme related to the Chinese Basketball Association that occurred earlier.
Antonio Blakeney, a former NBA player currently with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel, is also implicated in the indictment. During the 2022-2023 Chinese Basketball Association season, Blakeney reportedly alerted co-conspirators that he would sit out a game against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. Following this information, bets were placed on the opposing team, with the Dragons losing 121-80.
While the syndicate is said to have made substantial bets at licensed sportsbooks across the U.S., some wagers were placed in Pennsylvania, particularly at BetRivers Philadelphia. Smith's associates, Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley, face charges in a Brooklyn conspiracy that also implicates several former NBA players. In another notable incident involving a Blakeney game in China, $198,300 was reportedly wagered at BetRivers on a single matchup.
One member of the syndicate even joked, “Nothing is guaranteed in life but death, taxes, and Chinese basketball.” Though Blakeney has managed to evade extradition to the U.S., he continues to perform professionally overseas, recently scoring 30 points in a EuroLeague game against Valencia.
As the corruption within college basketball became apparent, the criminal operation targeted the NCAA. In February 2024, Smith collaborated with Blakeney to engage players from multiple Division I schools, including the struggling DePaul University. Prosecutors allege that Smith and others coaxed player Micawber Etienne, who then brought in three teammates to participate. In a span of three weeks, the players underperformed, culminating in a significant loss to St. John’s on March 5.
Despite concerns from within the scheme, as Smith texted Etienne to keep performance low, Smith later delivered a $40,000 bribe to the players following the game. In addition to DePaul, Smith allegedly recruited players from numerous smaller Division I programs, many of which are in the Gulf Coast area. Prosecutors indicated that the bribe payments were enticingly positioned to exceed legitimate student-athlete opportunities under the Name, Image, and Likeness compensation structure.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf criticized Smith's actions for undermining the integrity of NCAA games. "Jalen Smith played a central role in this point-shaving scheme, which corrupted the integrity of NCAA games and the sport of basketball itself,” Metcalf stated, adding a warning against corruption in athletic competition.
Prosecutor Louis Lappen highlighted the extensive nature of the scheme, noting it involved over 39 players from more than 17 teams and resulted in upwards of $3 million in fraudulent wagers, leading to losses of over $1.1 million for sportsbooks nationwide. Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI echoed these sentiments, emphasizing accountability for those who exploit athletes for financial gain.
Smith, who has been portrayed as a community-focused individual dedicated to mentoring young basketball players, has now become the first to be sentenced in this broad case. He argued that he was merely a "pawn" in the broader operations. His defense presented numerous letters highlighting his community contributions as a mentor and coach. Cipparone described his client’s remorse and acceptance of responsibility, indicating this understanding was reflected in the lighter sentence.
Smith must report to federal prison by December 1. Meanwhile, Hennen appeared in a Philadelphia court for a plea hearing, and Fairley awaits sentencing in a separate Brooklyn matter set for February.
