Federal prosecutors charged 26 people in what they call a betting scheme to rig NCAA basketball games. The defendants include a former Nebraska basketball player.Fifteen players are among those charged, having played as recently as last season.There were a number of “fixers” involved, who prosecutors said recruited players with bribes up to $30,000 a game.Seventeen different schools were mentioned in the indictment.One of the athletes accused in the case, Kevin Cross, played for Nebraska in the 2019-20 season before transferring to Tulane.The allegations appear to be from his time at Tulane.”When criminals pollute the purity of sports by manipulating competition, it doesn’t just imperil the integrity of sports betting markets, it imperils the integrity of sport itself. And when that happens, the Department of Justice will step in to protect what is a sacred institution of American life,” said U.S. attorney David Metcalf.The suspects face a slew of charges, including bribery in sports and wire fraud.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

LINCOLN, Neb. —

Federal prosecutors charged 26 people in what they call a betting scheme to rig NCAA basketball games.

The defendants include a former Nebraska basketball player.

Fifteen players are among those charged, having played as recently as last season.

There were a number of “fixers” involved, who prosecutors said recruited players with bribes up to $30,000 a game.

Seventeen different schools were mentioned in the indictment.

One of the athletes accused in the case, Kevin Cross, played for Nebraska in the 2019-20 season before transferring to Tulane.

The allegations appear to be from his time at Tulane.

“When criminals pollute the purity of sports by manipulating competition, it doesn’t just imperil the integrity of sports betting markets, it imperils the integrity of sport itself. And when that happens, the Department of Justice will step in to protect what is a sacred institution of American life,” said U.S. attorney David Metcalf.

The suspects face a slew of charges, including bribery in sports and wire fraud.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |