One of the main figures in a huge college basketball betting scandal is heading to federal prison. Jalen Smith, a 30-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, received a six-year sentence for helping organize a point-shaving operation involving dozens of NCAA basketball players. The scheme involved more than $3 million in fraudulent wagers and targeted over 29 college basketball games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Players were offered thousands of dollars to intentionally underperform.
According to the Department of Justice, Smith was sentenced to 72 months in prison on Oct. 13, followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro also ordered approximately $1.1 million in restitution and $75,000 in forfeiture.
Smith pleaded guilty in March to bribery in sporting contests, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The firearms charge stemmed from a separate investigation in which authorities discovered a loaded semiautomatic pistol at Smith’s Charlotte residence in 2025.
Federal prosecutors identified Smith as one of the organizers responsible for recruiting players and arranging payments within this betting operation.
The scheme involved convincing college basketball players to influence betting outcomes by intentionally underperforming.
Federal prosecutors said organizers typically offered between $10,000 and $30,000 per game. They generally targeted players on underdog teams, hoping to ensure those teams failed to cover the point spread.
That meant players didn’t necessarily have to lose games outright. They only needed to influence the final margin enough for the organizers’ bets to win. This college basketball betting scandal involved more than 39 players across over 17 Division I programs.
One particularly concerning detail involved how organizers selected potential recruits. Prosecutors said they targeted players whose bribe payments could exceed their legitimate NIL compensation opportunities. They primarily targeted players through social media.
The operation also caused significant financial damage to betting operators. According to the DOJ’s announcement, organizers placed more than $3 million in fraudulent wagers, resulting in over $1.1 million in financial losses for sportsbooks nationwide.
The scheme initially involved manipulated games in the Chinese Basketball Association before expanding into NCAA basketball. Investigators identified more than 29 college games that participants fixed or attempted to manipulate. Not every targeted game was necessarily successfully fixed.
The case demonstrates how organizers used inside information to place wagers that regular bettors couldn’t access, leaving sportsbooks exposed to substantial losses.
The sentencing comes as college sports continue to confront concerns about gambling and competition integrity. The NCAA has pushed for restrictions on college player prop bets, citing concerns about potential manipulation.
Smith now faces six years behind bars for his role in the scheme, which showed how college basketball players can be recruited to manipulate games for betting profits.
