Former Players, Ex-Sportsbook Trader Charged in NCAA Betting Scandal
David Genge Published 06/11/2026
Two former NCAA basketball players and an ex-sportsbook trader face charges in a college-basketball betting scandal. The trio is facing felony charges relating to an alleged player prop bet fixing scheme. The Clark County District Attorney filed the charges in Nevada.
Former Fresno State and San Jose State basketball player Steven Vasquez was arrested in September and charged with committing a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment and attempting or conspiring to cheat at a gambling game. At the same time, Matthew J. Martin, a former DraftKings sportsbook trader in Las Vegas, was also arrested. He is facing similar charges. An arrest warrant was also issued for former Fresno State player Mykell Robinson. He is playing pro basketball in Ecuador and remains at large.
How the alleged NCAA betting scheme worked
This NCAA basketball betting scandal was built around Robinson's statistical performance during a 2025 game between Fresno State and Colorado State. According to court documents and an NCAA investigation, Robinson is facing accusations of manipulating his performance in that game.
Robinson only played 21 minutes in that game. He scored three points on one 3-point field goal. He also dished out two assists and pulled down one rebound.
Vasquez, Martin, and another ex-DraftKings employee, Samuel Silverman, all allegedly placed player prop bets with a Las Vegas sportsbook on the under on Robinson's statistics in that game. Vasquez and Robinson were roommates at Fresno State. Both players were declared ineligible following an NCAA investigation. Silverman worked as a team manager at Fresno State during the 2022-23 season.
According to reporting by ESPN, Martin won $15,950 from his bets on that game.
Silverman is also facing charges
All four men accused of being part of this alleged scheme are facing charges. Silverman was arrested in May. He is facing similar charges to the other three involved in this alleged betting scandal. The three men arrested have all pleaded not guilty.
The charges are Class C felonies. Penalties can include fines and between one and five years in prison.
"Mr. Martin looks forward to proving his innocence in a court of law and doesn't intend to litigate the case in the press," attorney Crane Pomerantz told ESPN.
Both Martin and Silverman were working as traders at DraftKings Sportsbook in Las Vegas when the alleged scheme was hatched. A DraftKings spokesperson told ESPN that neither man was involved in setting college basketball odds for the company.
"The alleged activity at issue did not occur on DraftKings' platform, and the individuals involved are no longer employed by the company," the spokesperson told ESPN. "We strongly condemn the alleged conduct of these former employees and remain committed to protecting the integrity of sports and sports betting."
Robinson is cited in another NCAA betting scandal
Robinson is also part of another NCAA basketball betting investigation involving Arizona State player Chatton "BJ" Freeman. This came to light during the Fresno State investigation of Robinson.
According to an NCAA investigation, records on Robinson’s phone indicated that on four separate occasions between November and December 2024, Freeman knowingly provided information to Robinson, then a student-athlete at Fresno State. Robinson was then betting on Freeman through daily fantasy sports accounts. Freeman also knowingly provided information on at least two occasions to his then-girlfriend, who was also betting on Freeman.
When interviewed by NCAA enforcement staff, Freeman knowingly provided false or misleading information. He denied sharing information with Robinson and his then-girlfriend. Freeman also denied having a daily fantasy sports account. That account was under his name and email address. He had made deposits to the account while competing at a previous school.
Freeman was declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA.
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