Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Edward Davis, along with sports agent Paolo Zamorano and three others, have been indicted in connection with an alleged gambling scheme involving the manipulation of NBA game performance to influence betting outcomes.
Prosecutors allege that Beasley, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, agreed to alter aspects of his in-game performance in exchange for bribes, with inside information then passed along to co-conspirators who placed wagers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In one example cited in the indictment, Beasley allegedly told Davis ahead of a January 2024 game that he planned to underperform in rebounding, information that was then shared with others involved in the scheme.
Authorities say similar arrangements were made in subsequent games, including instances where Beasley allegedly indicated he would adjust scoring and rebounding performance in ways that could be exploited for betting purposes. Many of the resulting wagers were successful, according to prosecutors.
The indictment describes a series of coordinated bets placed across multiple operators based on the alleged inside information, with officials saying the scheme was designed to generate illegal profits while undermining the integrity of professional basketball.
Beasley’s attorney pushed back on the allegations, saying an indictment is only a charging document and not evidence of wrongdoing, and reaffirmed that Beasley maintains his presumption of innocence while the case proceeds.
Officials involved in the case said the alleged operation turned professional basketball into a vehicle for fraud, arguing that bribery and insider betting schemes damage both the sport and public trust in legalized wagering markets.
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