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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WBTV) – A former NBA basketball player who won a national championship at UNC was charged in the latest round of the federal government’s crackdown on illegal sports betting.
Ed Davis — who played for the Tar Heels from 2008-2010 — was one of six people who had indictments unsealed against them in federal court in New York on Monday, June 29.
A news release from federal officials alleged that Davis acted as a “gatekeeper” for fellow NBA player Malik Beasley.
According to the release, Beasley would tell Davis that what prop bets he intended to either under or overperform on. Davis and others allegedly then used that information to place bets. In exchange, Beasley allegedly took bribes.
Federal officials gave information on three 2024 games they described as “influenced.” One of those was against the Charlotte Hornets, when Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
According to the release, ahead of that Feb. 27, 2024 game against the Hornets, Beasley told Davis he intended to underperform on points and overperform on rebounding. Beasley scored only six points that game, despite playing 26 minutes — the most on the team.
“These defendants allegedly operated an illegal betting ring in an attempt to unlawfully earn hundreds of thousands of dollars,” one FBI official said in the release. “As alleged, Malik Beasley allowed himself to be bought and altered his gametime performance to line pockets of Ed Davis and his other co-conspirators.”
The other four people arrested in the sting were William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky, Ernesto Plascencia and Paolo Zamorano.
Beasley and Davis were teammates with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-2021 NBA season.
The 29-year-old Beasley did not play in the 2025-2026 season, while the 37-year-old Davis has not played in the NBA since 2022.
A native of Virginia, Davis won the 2009 national championship at the University of North Carolina, then was the Tar Heels’ leading rebounder and second-leading scorer the next year.
Former NBA player and Tar Heels star Ed Davis was charged in an illegal sports betting scheme.(AP photos)
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