Former NBA Player Indicted Over Gambling Scheme
Mike Goodpaster Published 30/06/2026
Former NBA player Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges for his alleged involvement in an illegal sports gambling scheme. Prosecutors claim that Beasley manipulated his performance during the 2023–24 season to influence prop bets. Beasley, former NBA player Ed Davis, and Paolo Zamorano, who was Davis' agent, are among six defendants indicted Monday on charges related to an alleged sports gambling scheme that targeted at least four games during the 2023-24 season.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York filed the federal indictment. Beasley's attorney said he would voluntarily surrender to authorities later this week.
The federal indictment alleges Beasley manipulated games to pay off debts
Along with Beasley, Davis, and Zamorano, also facing charges are Rob Gorodetsky, Ernesto Plascencia, and William Brown. All six men are facing charges of wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, bribing then-NBA player Malik Beasley to fix his performance in multiple games in order to place fraudulent wagers, enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. in a statement.
According to the indictment, federal attorneys are alleging that Beasley lost millions of dollars gambling during his nine-year NBA career. To get out from under his massive debt load, he agreed to manipulate his statistics ahead of at least four games during the 2023-24 season.
This happened during the time when Beasley was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. He manipulated his stats so that the co-conspirators could win player prop bets they made on Beasley.
Among those owed money by Beasley was Davis. The indictment alleges that it was Davis who encouraged Beasley to manipulate his stats to benefit bettors.
"Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting," Davis texted Beasley in December 2023, according to the indictment.
"We can make some good money."
Accusations are that Beasley was manipulating four separate NBA games
According to the indictment, within a month of that conversation, Beasley would inform Davis of his plan to go under his rebound total during a January 6, 2024, Bucks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Beasley finished the game with three rebounds. The total on his player prop for that game was 3.5 rebounds. "[T]he defendants and their co-conspirators placed numerous fraudulent wagers totaling tens of thousands of dollars conditioned on defendant Malik Beasley's 'under rebounds' prop bets," reads the indictment.
Accusations are that Beasley was manipulating his stats in three other 2024 games. They include February 27 against the Charlotte Hornets, March 10 against the Los Angeles Clippers, and March 21 versus the Brooklyn Nets.
"As alleged, Malik Beasley allowed himself to be bought and altered his gametime performance to line the pockets of Ed Davis and his other co-conspirators," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr., said in the release announcing the indictments.
The NBA and NBAPA both acknowledge the charges against Beasley
Officials from the NBA and the NBA Players' Association released statements following the indictments of Beasley and Davis.
"We will continue to investigate this matter and cooperate with the relevant authorities," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement. "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority."
Added the National Basketball Players Association in a statement to ESPN: "We are aware of the indictment and are working to ensure that appropriate due process rights are protected and that the integrity of the game is upheld."