A sweeping FBI probe has led to federal indictments against 20 people accused of manipulating college and pro basketball games, marking the latest gambling scandal to strike high-level sports.
At a Glance
- Federal prosecutors unsealed the indictments in Philadelphia on Thursday.
- NBA player Terry Rozier was arrested on Oct. 23 for allegedly sharing insider knowledge with bettors.
- Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were arrested in November for allegedly betting on their own pitch-by-pitch outcomes.
- Why it matters: The case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in sports integrity amid booming legalized gambling.
The unsealed court documents outline two distinct schemes. Prosecutors say Rozier, a journeyman guard, conspired with gamblers to supply confidential team information that could influence wagers. Separately, Clase and Ortiz are accused of working with gamblers to place bets on whether individual pitches they threw would be balls or strikes during games.
According to News Of Losangeles‘s review of the filings, the indictments charge the defendants with conspiracy to commit fraud and related gambling offenses. The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where the FBI led the multi-year investigation.
The arrests follow a broader crackdown on sports-related betting crimes as legal wagering expands nationwide. Ethan R. Coleman reported that federal agents used wiretaps, financial records, and cooperating witnesses to build the cases against the defendants.
Rozier turned himself in ahead of the Oct. 23 court appearance and was released on bond. His attorney declined comment when reached by News Of Losangeles. Clase and Ortiz were taken into custody during the November sweep and have since been placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball.
Authorities say the schemes netted hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit profits. No games are alleged to have had their final outcomes directly altered, but prosecutors contend the integrity of in-game events was compromised.
The investigation remains active. Additional charges or defendants could be announced as the FBI continues to examine sports-betting networks operating across the United States and overseas markets.
Key Takeaways
- Twenty individuals now face federal charges tied to game-fixing.
- Athletes from both the NBA and MLB are among those accused.
- The arrests underscore growing federal scrutiny of sports gambling crimes.
