One of the people accused of being a ringleader in a plot to affect outcomes in college basketball games pleaded guilty to charges Monday.
Jalen Smith, 30, of Charlotte made guilty pleas to charges of bribery, wire fraud and illegal possession of a firearm in front of U.S. District Judge Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro in Philadelphia.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 26 people, including ex-NBA player and LSU star Antonio Blakeney, in January, accusing them of involvement in a point-shaving plot.
The prosecution alleged that Smith, a player trainer in North Carolina, was among six “fixers” who wrangled players at minor- and mid-major college teams “to underperform and help ensure their team failed to cover the spread in games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 NCAA men’s basketball seasons.”
According to prosecutors, “Smith had a leadership role in the scheme, particularly in recruiting, managing and paying players for their roles,” NBC News reported.
Players alleged to have been involved came from Abilene Christian, Alabama State, Buffalo, Coppin State, DePaul, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Kennesaw State, La Salle, New Orleans, Nicholls State, North Carolina A&T, Northwestern State, Robert Morris, Saint Louis, Southern Miss and Tulane, according to The Athletic.
Per the prosecution, 29 or more games were fixed, with gamblers receiving dollars in payouts on the affected contests.
Sentencing for Smith, who is out on bail, is scheduled for June. He could receive up to five years for bribery, up to 20 years for wire fraud and up to 20 years for the firearms charge, per NBC News.
The firearm count came about because investigators found a gun during their search in the gambling investigation, and he was barring from gun ownership due to a previous felony conviction, according to multiple media reports.
