NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Thursday that at least 26 people were indicted in an alleged “transactional criminal scheme” to fix NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball games and professional Chinese Basketball Association games.
The announcement follows the federal government’s crackdown on illegal sports betting and point-shaving schemes that engulfed the NBA in October.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, David Metcalf, announced the indictment at a news conference Thursday, saying the alleged scheme took place over a three-year period and involved 17 NCAA Division 1 men’s programs and dozens of college athletes and regular games.
“When criminals pollute the purity of sports by manipulating the competition, it not only jeopardizes the integrity of the sports betting markets and jeopardizes the integrity of the sport itself and everything that sports represents to us, you know, hard work, determination and fairness,” Metcalf said.
“We allege an extensive international criminal conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni and professional players who fixed games across the country and poisoned the American spirit of competition for monetary gain.”
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
