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The FBI’s investigation into the NBA<\/a> for sports gambling and other organized crime schemes reentered the public consciousness on Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (in Brooklyn) indicted former Detroit Pistons\u00a0<\/a>guard Malik Beasley\u00a0<\/a>and former Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> center Ed Davis<\/a> in their latest round of charges. The government is reportedly organizing a voluntary surrender for Beasley, who hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2024-25 season because of the ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n Davis befriended Beasley, his former Timberwolves teammate, during the 2020-21 season. When Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks\u00a0<\/a>during the 2023-24 season, the pair allegedly collaborated to adjust his on-court performance during at least four games to help co-conspirators win prop bets.\u00a0<\/p>\n Federal prosecutors say the scheme began on Jan. 26, 2024, during a Bucks-Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> game when he underperformed on rebounds to hit the under on a prop bet. They added that the ruse would help Beasley solve his financial woes, which included millions in gambling debts and borrowed money from Davis.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Per the Associated Press’ Ed White,<\/a> U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said Beasley and others “turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation.”\u00a0<\/p>\n He added that the schemes “erode the integrity of American sports and victimize the sports-watching public.”<\/p>\n Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, denied the charges. Davis’ lawyer, John Adam, hasn’t yet responded.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We’ll review the indictment and vigorously defend the charges and maintain Malik’s innocence,” Haney said<\/a>, via The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov.\u00a0<\/p>\n Five former or active NBA players have now been arrested following the indictments of Beasley and Davis. In total, 34 people have been apprehended, including mobsters.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two of the central figures in this investigation are ex-Portland Trail Blazers<\/a> head coach Chauncey Billups and former\u00a0Charlotte Hornets<\/a> guard Terry Rozier.\u00a0<\/p>\n Billups allegedly participated in fixes of high-stakes card games with connections to the La Cosa Nostra organized crime families, which cheated gamblers out of at least $7M. He has pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n Rozier allegedly collaborated with friends to win prop bets on a March 2023 game while playing for the Hornets. He has also pleaded not guilty.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unlike Billups and Rozier, former Cavaliers guard\/assistant coach Damon Jones pleaded guilty\u00a0<\/a>to his charges. Reading a prepared statement to a court in New York in April, he admitted he used “inside information” to defraud sports betting companies and acted as a “face card” at rigged poker games.\u00a0<\/p>\n The NBA was hoping the storyline would remain quiet. Now, it’s generating headlines again, further highlighting that gambling scandals remain a growing problem\u00a0<\/a>in sports.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhat did Malik Beasley and Ed Davis allegedly do?\u00a0<\/h2>\n
How do Malik Beasley-Ed Davis allegations tie to the larger gambling scandal<\/a>?<\/h2>\n