Jalen Smith pleads guilty in NCAA and CBA basketball bribery scheme
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The US Department of Justice said Jalen Smith pleaded guilty to bribery in sporting contests, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and unlawful firearm possession. The charges relate to an alleged scheme to recruit and pay players to underperform in NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games between 2022 and 2025.
According to the indictment, Smith acted as a fixer who recruited, managed and paid players, with bribes generally ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. The DOJ alleges that more than 39 players were involved and that fixers placed millions of dollars in wagers; Smith’s guilty plea resolves the listed charges, but the source does not report a conviction or sentence.
The case highlights bribery risks created by intermediaries, direct cash payments and communications-based recruitment. Effective controls should assess third parties, monitor unusual payment and betting-related activity, and escalate conflicts involving participants with access to competitively sensitive information.