A former Robert Morris men’s basketball player is among the people who have been indicted in what’s being called a transnational criminal scheme. Federal prosecutors charged 20 people on Thursday, including 15 former college basketball players, in an alleged betting scheme to rig NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games.Former Robert Morris Player IndictedFormer Robert Morris basketball player Markeese Hastings is one of 15 former NCAA players facing charges. The other five people being charged are described as fixers. In the 70-page indictment, authorities say the fixers recruited the college basketball players with “bribe payments” usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.According to court documents, Hastings’ performance in two games is linked to the scheme. The documents say Hastings and two other players underperformed in and influenced the first half of a game against Northern Kentucky in 2024. “Without Robert Morris players intentionally underperforming in the second half of the game, Robert Morris played substantially better, with Robert Morris outscoring Northern Kentucky 37 to 29,” The document reads. The document alleges the other game affected was against Purdue University Fort Wayne. The two other players involved were not named. Statement from Robert Morris:”RMU has been made aware of an investigation and charges involving former members of our men’s basketball program for actions that may have occurred during their enrollment at RMU. We are not aware of any allegations of wrongdoing by the University.”RMU has been and will continue to cooperate fully with all relevant authorities. As this is an ongoing matter involving the NCAA and federal law enforcement, we will not offer further comment at this time.”Duquesne Games in the IndictmentIn a separate part of the indictment, it mentions two games that involved Duquesne that were allegedly affected. Those games involved players from St. Louis University and Fordham University. The Federal Takedown More than 30 people were also charged in last year’s sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional basketball.Concerns about gambling and college sports have grown since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on the practice, leading some states to legalize it to varying degrees. The NCAA does not allow athletes or staff to bet on college games, but it briefly allowed student-athletes to bet on professional sports last year before rescinding that decision in November.More broadly, one betting scandal after another has rocked the sports world, where gambling revenue topped $11 billion for the first three-quarters of last year, according to the American Gaming Association. That’s up more than 13% from the prior year, the group said.The Associated Press contributed to this article.
PITTSBURGH —
A former Robert Morris men’s basketball player is among the people who have been indicted in what’s being called a transnational criminal scheme.
Federal prosecutors charged 20 people on Thursday, including 15 former college basketball players, in an alleged betting scheme to rig NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games.
Former Robert Morris Player Indicted
Former Robert Morris basketball player Markeese Hastings is one of 15 former NCAA players facing charges. The other five people being charged are described as fixers.
In the 70-page indictment, authorities say the fixers recruited the college basketball players with “bribe payments” usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.
According to court documents, Hastings’ performance in two games is linked to the scheme. The documents say Hastings and two other players underperformed in and influenced the first half of a game against Northern Kentucky in 2024.
“Without Robert Morris players intentionally underperforming in the second half of the game, Robert Morris played substantially better, with Robert Morris outscoring Northern Kentucky 37 to 29,” The document reads.
The document alleges the other game affected was against Purdue University Fort Wayne.
The two other players involved were not named.
Statement from Robert Morris:
“RMU has been made aware of an investigation and charges involving former members of our men’s basketball program for actions that may have occurred during their enrollment at RMU. We are not aware of any allegations of wrongdoing by the University.
“RMU has been and will continue to cooperate fully with all relevant authorities. As this is an ongoing matter involving the NCAA and federal law enforcement, we will not offer further comment at this time.”
Duquesne Games in the Indictment
In a separate part of the indictment, it mentions two games that involved Duquesne that were allegedly affected.
Those games involved players from St. Louis University and Fordham University.
The Federal Takedown
More than 30 people were also charged in last year’s sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional basketball.
Concerns about gambling and college sports have grown since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on the practice, leading some states to legalize it to varying degrees. The NCAA does not allow athletes or staff to bet on college games, but it briefly allowed student-athletes to bet on professional sports last year before rescinding that decision in November.
More broadly, one betting scandal after another has rocked the sports world, where gambling revenue topped $11 billion for the first three-quarters of last year, according to the American Gaming Association. That’s up more than 13% from the prior year, the group said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.