Former NBA Players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis Charged in Sports Betting Manipulation Case

BROOKLYN, N.Y.: Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis have been indicted in a federal sports betting case.

The charges deepen integrity concerns around NBA player prop betting, with prosecutors alleging inside information was used to place fraudulent wagers on Beasley’s performance.

The Eastern District of New York announcement said a federal indictment charged Beasley, Davis, William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky, Ernesto Plascencia and NBA player agent Paolo Zamorano. The defendants face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

Prosecutors Allege Prop Bet Manipulation

Federal prosecutors said Beasley, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, agreed with Davis and others to manipulate his performance in NBA games so co-conspirators could place fraudulent wagers. Davis was described in the indictment as Beasley’s “gatekeeper”.

The indictment alleges that Davis and other co-conspirators used nonpublic information about Beasley’s intended performance to bet on player props. Prosecutors said Beasley received bribes in return, often through the reduction or payment of gambling debts he owed Davis.

The case follows earlier scrutiny of Beasley’s betting activity. Beasley was previously targeted in a federal betting investigation tied to NBA prop wagers, although his attorneys later disputed the allegations against him.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said the defendants allegedly turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation. He said bribery and insider betting schemes involving former NBA players and an NBA agent erode public confidence in American sports.

Four Bucks Games Cited in Case

Prosecutors identified several Bucks games from the 2023-24 season as part of the alleged scheme. The indictment says Beasley told Davis before a January 26, 2024, game against the Cleveland Cavaliers that he intended to underperform on rebounds, allowing others to place wagers based on that information.

The government also cited a February 27, 2024, game against the Charlotte Hornets, when Beasley allegedly intended to underperform on points and overperform on rebounds. A March 10, 2024, game against the Los Angeles Clippers was also identified, with prosecutors alleging Beasley intended to overperform on rebounds.

Other reporting on the indictment identified a March 21, 2024, game against the Brooklyn Nets as another event under scrutiny. In that game, the alleged plan failed when Beasley exceeded the rebounding target tied to the scheme.

Prosecutors said the defendants and their co-conspirators placed fraudulent wagers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars through multiple betting operators. The indictment included examples of wagers totaling more than $75,000, with net winnings of at least $121,000.

NBA Gambling Probe Widens

The indictment adds to a broader federal investigation into alleged gambling and insider betting schemes involving current and former basketball figures. Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has already been set to plead guilty in a gambling probe connected to separate allegations involving inside NBA information.

The wider issue has increased pressure on leagues, sportsbooks and regulators to examine how player prop markets are monitored. The case also fits into a larger debate over NBA betting scandals and sports integrity, particularly when nonpublic information may be used to target individual player statistics.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the league is reviewing the indictment and will continue to cooperate with authorities. He said the league takes the allegations seriously and that the integrity of the game remains its top priority.

The charges remain allegations. The Justice Department said the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud conspiracy counts, up to 20 years on the money laundering conspiracy count and up to five years on the bribery in sporting contests count.

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