U.S. federal prosecutors have charged 20 people in an alleged scheme to manipulate college basketball and Chinese professional games, according to an indictment unsealed in Philadelphia.
The case centers on accusations that players and intermediaries conspired to influence outcomes through bribery and point shaving over multiple seasons.
Authorities said the conduct spanned from September 2022 through February 2025 and involved both U.S. collegiate programs and the Chinese Basketball Association.
The indictment was returned by a grand jury and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors allege that during the 2022–2023 CBA season, defendants sought to fix men’s league games by manipulating margins of victory.
Point shaving was described as a central method used to influence betting outcomes without necessarily determining winners.
The indictment also alleges attempts to target games at Nicholls State University, Tulane University, Northwestern State University, La Salle University, DePaul University, Robert Morris University, the University of Southern Mississippi and North Carolina A&T State University.
Players at Kennesaw State University, Coppin State University, the University of New Orleans, Abilene Christian University, Eastern Michigan and Alabama State University were also targeted.
The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery in sporting contests.
Of the 20 defendants, 15 are former Division I college basketball players who competed as recently as the 2024–2025 season.
The remaining five were described as fixers, including trainers, a former coach, a former NCAA player and individuals identified as gamblers and sports handicappers.
Prosecutors allege that fixers recruited players using bribe payments typically ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.
The case follows broader NCAA investigations that have resulted in at least 10 lifetime bans this year and reviews of at least 30 players over gambling allegations.
Concerns about gambling in sports have intensified amid a series of scandals and the continued expansion of legalized betting in the United States.