Ex-NBA stars Malik Beasley, Ed Davis indicted in betting case

NEW YORK, United States — Former NBA stars Malik Beasley and Ed Davis have been indicted on illegal gambling charges linked to alleged performance fixing, US prosecutors said on Monday (Tuesday Manila time).

Prosecutors say that when Beasley was a player for the Milwaukee Bucks, he agreed with his former NBA teammate Davis ahead of games that he would either underperform or over-perform to sway bets for profit.

Accomplices then used this confidential information to place bets on his performance.

Four others are charged as co-conspirators in the indictment, including current NBA player agent Paolo Zamorano. Several of the men have been arrested and will appear in court at a later date.

Prosecutors gave several examples of alleged performance fixing, including the January 26, 2024 Milwaukee Bucks fixture against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Beasley is alleged to have informed Davis that he intended to underperform with respect to rebounding in the game, prosecutors said.

An indictment unsealed at a federal court in Brooklyn charged the six "with wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy," prosecutors said in a statement.

The alleged scheme sought "to manipulate performance in NBA games and use inside information about Beasley's intended performance to profit via illegal betting activity."

In return for the alleged performance fixing, Beasley received bribes, typically having his gambling debts to Davis reduced or paid off, prosecutors allege.

United States Attorney Joseph Nocella said that "bribery and insider betting schemes like this one involving former NBA players and a current NBA player agent who exploited inside NBA information for profit erode the integrity of American sports and victimize the sports-watching public."