Former NBA Players Malik Beasley and Edward Davis Indicted in Betting Manipulation Case
Federal Charges Filed Against Ex-NBA Players
Malik Beasley, 29, and Edward Davis, 37, both former NBA athletes, have been formally charged in a federal case accusing them of manipulating basketball games to gain an advantage in prop betting. The indictment also includes several other individuals connected to the scheme, among them Davis’ former agent.
Details of the Allegations and Investigation
Beasley, who last played as a guard for the Detroit Pistons, has been under federal investigation since the previous year. He and Davis, who once played alongside each other on the Minnesota Timberwolves, are part of a group of six individuals charged in a Brooklyn federal court. The charges encompass conspiracy to commit fraud, bribery related to sports, and conspiracy to launder money.
According to prosecutors, the two planned the scheme to settle gambling debts that Beasley owed to Davis, while also hoping to profit from the manipulation. They allegedly collaborated to decide which matches Beasley would deliberately underperform or overperform in specific stats such as rebounds and points.
One highlighted incident involved Beasley informing Davis that he planned to exceed a prop bet line of 3.5 rebounds in a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, 2024. Despite the game’s outcome being already decided with only seconds left on the clock, Beasley contested a shot by the Clippers and swiftly grabbed the rebound, finishing the game with four rebounds—enough to secure a win on the bet placed.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. described the defendants as having turned professional basketball into a criminal betting enterprise, facilitating hundreds of thousands of dollars in wagers through major online platforms.
Financial difficulties appear to be a key motivator behind the scheme. Beasley faced highly publicized struggles, including eviction from a high-end apartment in Detroit due to unpaid rent exceeding $20,000, tying into the timeline of the ongoing investigation.
Other Individuals Implicated in the Scheme
The indictment expands beyond Beasley and Davis, naming four additional alleged co-conspirators: William Brown from Nebraska, Robert Gorodetsky from Illinois, Ernesto Plascencia from California, and Paolo Zamorano. Zamorano, a 39-year-old former Division I basketball player and Davis’ ex-agent, has denied all accusations. His attorney stated that Zamorano refutes claims of betting with Beasley’s information and is prepared to defend himself in court.
This case adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding NBA basketball and gambling scandals. In a related development, former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has also recently pleaded not guilty to bribery charges linked to a separate ongoing investigation.
